ETRI President Park Se-woong: "Establishing an Immersive Research Environment... Aiming for 90% Mission-Oriented Research"

[Financial News] Marking four months in office, Park Se-woong, president of the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), emphasized the role of the institute as a "national mission-oriented research institution" where researchers can immerse themselves in their work. The institute plans to expand the proportion of mission-oriented research projects to 90% by 2030.
Park Se-woong held his first press conference with reporters since taking office in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, on the 30th and said, "The technology paradigm is rapidly shifting with Artificial Intelligence (AI) at its center, and fundamental changes are beginning in the research environment of government-funded research institutes, such as the abolition of the Project-Based System (PBS)." He added, "The top priority is to intensively pursue an environment where researchers can immerse themselves in their research."
This is due to the transformation of ETRI into a 'national mission-oriented research institution' following the abolition of PBS. Through this, the goal is to expand the proportion of mission-oriented research from the current 22% to 90% by 2030, and to significantly adjust competitive commissioned research to focus on important and essential government-commissioned projects.
In fact, ETRI has recently submitted its Roles & Responsibilities for this to the National Research Council of Science & Technology (NST). The strategy is to establish a strategically focused R&D system centered on five key areas: AI, Physical AI, 3D Communication, Spatial Combination, and AI Digital Transformation (ADX).
In particular, plans are underway to implement a role within the post-PBS system focused on technology-centered commercialization. The plan is to expand internal research investment in technology scale-up, startup-integrated R&D, and technology consulting, and to strengthen ETRI's startup 'Seed Nurturing and Growth Care' to ensure that research results do not remain merely in papers and patents but lead to industry and the market.
Park explained, "We plan to focus on national strategic research centered on five key areas, while gradually reducing non-power sectors, which account for less than 3% of the total research budget."
In particular, Physical AI will be strengthened with an 'AI' focus. Park stated, "We intend to concentrate more on building AI models in Physical AI," adding, "We aim to secure physical AI component technologies centered on several leading fields, such as passing the test for guide dogs that assist the visually impaired within this year."
Patent and academic activities will also shift from a focus on mere numbers to one on qualitative outcomes, and administrative services closely aligned with research will be strengthened.
Park said, "We intend to produce more competitive research results and file meaningful overseas patents," adding, "We will file two to three times more patents than before to ensure that this leads to a substantial increase in royalty income."
Park also revealed his plan to simultaneously pursue technological and management innovations, centering on ETRI's new vision, "A Warm World of Coexistence Led by AI & DX Innovation."
"As AI approaches the technological singularity where it surpasses human capabilities, the question we must contemplate more deeply is not 'how excellent the technology is,' but 'what value does that technology provide to humans.'" Park stated, "ETRI's research must ultimately be directed toward people. ETRI's role is to enhance the competitiveness of industry and the nation while simultaneously reducing barriers and disparities and making the lives of citizens more convenient and safe."

[email protected] Yeon Ji-an Reporter