Solving Local Issues with Science and Technology, Including Parking Sharing Systems

[Asia Economy Reporter Junho Hwang] A system for sharing villa or apartment parking lots during daytime is being developed. A contest project utilizing science and technology to solve local issues such as turning rotten citrus into compost through plasma drying, eliminating odors from livestock farms or sewage pipes, and reducing traffic accidents in alleyways through intelligent CCTV is underway.

The Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety selected 10 tasks for the "Science and Technology Utilization Resident-Engaged Local Problem Solving Project" and signed a tripartite memorandum of understanding (MOU) with local governments on the 27th and held a kickoff meeting. This project is conducted to solve local issues through science and technology. The government is investing a total of 6 billion KRW in this project.

The 10 projects were selected from local issues received from local governments since last year, which researchers at research institutions judged to be scientifically and technologically solvable. The task to improve mobility convenience for vulnerable traffic users in Gunwi-gun, Gyeongbuk, will be developed by Keimyung University, and the resource recovery of spoiled citrus is being addressed by the National Fusion Research Institute. Seoul National University will play the role of problem solver for rainwater utilization in rural areas.

The government plans to operate a "problem-solving living lab" from the start to the end of the project to increase resident participation and the sense of impact.

Jung Byung-seon, 1st Vice Minister of the Ministry of Science and ICT, stated, "To produce results that the public can feel, we will spare no effort to actively support communication between local residents and researchers throughout the technology development process." Yoon Jong-in, Vice Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, said, "Science and digital technologies should create tangible results that the public can experience through active field application, and furthermore contribute to restoring local communities and local economies. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety will also actively support this."

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