Targeting 97% Localization of Space Components by 2030... 211.5 Billion Won Investment

[Asia Economy Reporter Junho Hwang] The government will invest a total of 211.5 billion KRW by 2030 to develop Korean-made space components. The goal is to achieve an import substitution effect of 399.6 billion KRW and a localization rate of space components exceeding 97%. On the 27th, the Ministry of Science and ICT announced the establishment of the "Space Pioneer Project" to support the localization of advanced space components applied to launch vehicles and satellites.

The government is promoting this project to reduce the high overseas dependence on space components and secure global competitiveness. Among the 235 technologies in the Space Development Roadmap 2.0, 3 launch vehicle projects (58 billion KRW) and 13 satellite projects (137.5 billion KRW) were selected through expert evaluation focusing on strategic importance, urgency, and economic feasibility.

The Ministry of Science and ICT stated, "This project will focus on enhancing the completeness of the developed outcomes to apply them to actual system projects and creating an industrial ecosystem foundation by improving the capabilities of space companies."

The government plans to form research teams as industry-academia-research consortiums and manage the project through specialized project groups to enable technical linkage and supplementation. In particular, at least one company will participate in each design task (either independently or with joint technology rights) to ensure companies can practically secure technological competitiveness. Additionally, through legal revisions, a system will be established to mandatorily apply the project outcomes to system projects if technical feasibility is confirmed. Through this project, the government aims to achieve a total import substitution effect of 399.6 billion KRW and a localization rate exceeding 97% for each detailed task.

Minister of Science and ICT Ki-young Choi said, "As seen in Japan's export regulation cases, to become an unshakable semiconductor powerhouse, securing materials and component technologies is essential. Similarly, to leap forward as a space powerhouse, securing the capability to independently develop space components is very important."

He added, "Through the Space Pioneer Project, we will enhance the space development capabilities of industries and spare no support to ensure that the developed components can be actually used in system projects."

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