The Korean government will invest KRW 11.6750 trillion in science and technology research and development (R&D) next year. It also allocated KRW 3.9112 trillion to build a creative economy and KRW 640.7 billion to enhance the safety and welfare of citizens.
In addition, the government will give researchers who haven’t met their goal another opportunity if the researchers are recognized for the progress of a project or their attitude toward a project.
The Korean government held the second meeting of the National Science & Technology Council last week and finalized the 2014 budget plan for national R&D projects.
The National Science & Technology Council, the highest decision-making body in the field of science and technology, consists of 13 ministers and private members from the field of science, technology, humanities and social sciences.
The meeting also discussed and finalized a guideline to provide an re-challenge opportunity for researchers and the third basic mid- and long-term plan to foster agriculture biotechnology.
Prime Minister Jung Hong-won noted that Korea has achieved rapid economic growth with a fast follower strategy that emulates and improves the technologies of advanced countries, but it has reached a dead end. He stressed that it is important to become a first mover that dominates the global market by developing new technology.
◇Next Year’s Budget for National R&D Projects Increases by 2.2 Percent
The Korean government will invest KRW 11.6750 trillion in 414 key R&D projects next year.
To achieve a creative economy, the government will invest KRW 3.9112 trillion next year. It plans to provide KRW 1.135 trillion for the core projects of a creative economy, including start-up technology development projects.
Next year’s budget plan allocates KRW 640.7 billion for R&D projects that aim to improve citizens’ safety and solve social issues, including those related to disasters, food and pharmaceutical safety management and information protection.
Considering difficult financial conditions, the government saved a budget of KRW 602 billion through restructuring, which included clearing overlapping projects and reducing support for corporations.
◇ Opportunities for Another Challenge
In addition, when a researcher does not meet his or her goal but is recognized for the progress of projects, he or she will be given another opportunity to take on a challenge.
Failures have thus far not been collected in a database, as people tend to avoid failing and researchers take responsibility for failures by returning research budgets or not being able to participate in research projects. Researchers have not risked taking on challenging research projects, to avoid taking responsibility.
◇ Science and Technology Strategy Established to Foster Agriculture Biotechnology
A total of KRW 656.7 billion will be invested by 2017 in agriculture and biotechnology R&D to develop the agriculture and livestock industries as new growth engines. The government aims to secure global competitiveness and develop the agriculture and livestock industries as knowledge-based, high-added-value industries.
According to the third science and technology basic plan, the MSIP will establish a strategic roadmap with 30 technologies selected based on their importance and necessity from 120 national strategic technologies.
The roadmap, which will be developed by February of 2014, will suggest a comprehensive strategy for all cycles of technological development, from the initiation to commercialization, based on each technological characteristic.
Source Text
Source: Newsis (Aug. 4, 2013)
** This article was translated from the Korean.