Korea has a strong passion for science technology development, where the key to the country’s future growth can be found.
| Researchers experimenting at a university in Korea. Korea aims to become one of top seven superpowers in the science technology sector by 2012 |
The Korean government plans to exploit growth potential by leading the development of emerging industries. To this aim, it has set up long-term plans and secured an investment budget to strengthen its leadership in the global science technology sector.
The Korean government aims to become one of the top seven leading countries in the science sector by 2012. It has decided to focus on seven selected areas and expand its gross expenditure on research and development to five percent of the country’s total GDP. In line with this “5-7-7 strategy,” the government set up the second stage of its science technology development plan in 2008 and has been carrying out related projects since then.
Korea has been expanding its research and development investment volume in the science technology sector. The government’s R&D budget for this year exceeded 14 trillion won, an 8.6 percent increase from last year.
Korea’s R&D budget is higher than that of other countries. According to the Korea Institute of S&T Evaluation and Planning (KISTEP), Korea spent $45.3 billion in 2008, the fourth highest amount in the world after the United States, Japan and Germany.
Korea has also been successful in research achievements. Korea’s science citation index (SCI) recorded 38,613 points in 2009, up more than 40 percent from 2007.
The number of Korea’s international patent applications exceeded 8,000 in 2009, recording a 13.9 percent increase from 2007, when there were 7,065 applications. The country also ranked the third in scientific infrastructure in the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) World Competitiveness Yearbook 2009, up from seventh in 2007.
As part of the “5-7-7 strategy,” Korea is focusing on nurturing talented human resources in science technology and generating more jobs, strengthening R&D in basic science, technology and research, and expanding its support for green and emerging technology industries in order to upgrade the country’s science status.
* Nurturing human resources and generating more jobs in science, technology
To secure highly talented people in the sciences, the government decided to strengthen its support system to nurture well-trained human resources. Within the first half of this year, it will set up a basic plan for incubating and supporting human resources in the natural sciences and engineering. It will also inject 124 billion won to nurture world-class research-centered universities.
| A boy trying out green smart home technology supplied by the government (Yonhap News) |
Korea also plans to generate more jobs in the science sector. The government will support the parts and materials industry and upgrade the technology potential of medium-sized enterprises. It will also expand its R&D investment in the knowledge service sector to make more jobs.
To back the “low carbon, green growth” policy plan, the government will expand investment volume in developing core green technologies to 2.5 trillion won this year from 2.2 trillion won last year. It will support development of smart grids, LED technology and green software, as well as the development of renewable and nuclear energy.
* Government to support green technology, new emerging industries
The government will expand its support for technology development in emerging industries, including artificial intelligence, the cultural contents industry, biotechnology, the medical sector, new material development and nano-fusion technology. The government will also carry out large-scale national projects, including support for aerospace technology, nuclear fusion reactors, and research in marine and polar regions.
The government will also seek to expand international cooperation, including official development assistance in science technology for developing countries, and widen international exchanges and participation in multinational cooperative projects.
By Yoon Sojoung
Korea.net Staff Writer
Adapted from an article in the Weekly Gonggam magazine, published by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism
