COVID-19 Experts Worldwide Connect to KAIST on the 22nd

[Asia Economy Reporter Junho Hwang] To explore response measures for the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), global experts will connect to the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). The World Economic Forum (WEF) Head of Global Health will discuss international cooperation in the medical field, and the Brookings Institution, the top think tank in Washington, USA, will seek response plans to economic shocks. Regarding remote education, experts from Microsoft and IBM will participate. KAIST announced on the 20th that it will hold the Global Strategy Institute (GSI) - International Forum 2020 (online) with them from 9 a.m. on the 22nd.

A Venue for Post-COVID-19 International Cooperation

This forum was organized to discuss international cooperation for responding to COVID-19. Kim Jeong-ho, Director of GSI (Professor of Electrical Engineering), who planned the event, introduced, "It is meaningful as the first discussion venue on the theme of international cooperation while each country is individually responding to COVID-19."

At the event, Ahanou Behnah, WEF Head of COVID-19 Response, emphasized international cooperation in the medical field. Recently, WEF established the 'COVID-19 Action Platform,' an organization where over 200 member companies including governments, institutions, and international organizations gather to discuss countermeasures to reduce health and economic shocks caused by COVID-19.

Behnah also presented prospects for vaccine development through the COVID-19 Action Platform. In a recent interview with the US news channel CNN, he said, "Vaccine development is at a very early stage but viewed positively," adding, "WEF recognizes that about 100 vaccine programs are underway, and vaccine development targeting 1-2 substances could be achieved within 12 to 18 months."

Jerome Kim, Secretary-General of the International Vaccine Institute, will also participate in the forum to present on establishing a global permanent support system to shorten the development period of vaccines and therapeutics focusing on COVID-19 vaccine development.

Korea's COVID-19 Response Capability Attracts Global Experts

On the 1st, when the mandatory 2-week self-quarantine for all incoming travelers from abroad began, arrivals at Terminal 1 of Incheon International Airport were registering their names to board the special airport buses equipped with full quarantine measures for overseas arrivals. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

To seek measures to respond to the economic shock caused by COVID-19, David Dollar, Senior Fellow at the China Center of the Brookings Institution, will participate. He is an expert on US-China economic relations and will diagnose the economic shock caused by COVID-19 and seek solutions.

Regarding remote education and the education system, Alessandro Papaspiridis, Director of Higher Education Industry at Microsoft, will give a speech, and Rebecca Winthrop, Co-Director of the Center for Universal Education at the Brookings Institution, will participate in the discussion.

Director Kim said, "Due to the positive evaluation of our country's response capability to COVID-19, each expert readily agreed to participate in the discussion venue," adding, "KAIST plans to strive to secure an initiative for international cooperation on COVID-19 through this forum."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.