Samsung Electronics Selects Projects for Support in the Second Half under the 'Samsung Future Technology Nurturing Program'

Selection of 31 Research Projects Including Basic Science Materials, Total Support of 39.6 Billion KRW
Total Support of 812.5 Billion KRW for 634 Research Projects Since 2013

[Asia Economy Reporter Changhwan Lee] Samsung Electronics announced on the 6th the research projects to be supported from the second half of 2020 through the 'Samsung Future Technology Fostering Project.'

The selected projects this time include a total of 31 projects: 15 in the basic science field, 7 in the materials field, and 9 in the ICT (Information and Communication Technology) field, with research funding of 39.63 billion KRW.

The 'Samsung Future Technology Fostering Project' is a public research support project implemented by Samsung Electronics since 2013, with an endowment of 1.5 trillion KRW, aiming to nurture and support scientific and technological research fields that will be responsible for Korea's future.

Every year, projects to be supported are selected in the basic science, materials, and ICT fields in the first and second halves of the year respectively, and through an annual 'designated theme project contest,' future technology fields necessary for the nation are designated and corresponding research is supported.

Including the projects announced this time, Samsung Electronics has supported a total of 634 projects with 812.5 billion KRW in research funding: 216 in basic science, 206 in materials, and 212 in ICT.

◆Basic Science

In the basic science field, a total of 15 projects were selected: 5 in mathematical sciences, 4 in life sciences, 4 in chemistry, and 2 in physics.

In particular, many projects were selected that study new interpretations or methodologies for existing hypotheses to elucidate the fundamental principles of physiological and natural phenomena.

Professor Myunghwan Choi of the Department of Life Sciences at Seoul National University will conduct research on how humans perceive 'taste' when eating food.

Currently, the theory regarding the phenomenon of taste perception holds that the tongue functions only as a simple sensor measuring sensations, and all complex information processing related to taste occurs in the brain.

Choi Myunghwan, Professor at Seoul National University

Professor Choi plans to propose a new theory that information processing related to taste is possible in the tongue and conduct research on this.

This research is expected to bring a paradigm shift in taste perception and be utilized in various fields related to food.

Professor Jongcheol Seo of the Department of Chemistry at POSTECH will directly observe molecular movements occurring inside nanometer-sized solution droplets.

Chemical reactions occurring in very small spaces of nanometer size show peculiar phenomena such as proceeding faster or producing entirely different substances compared to reactions in larger containers like beakers.

However, it is not specifically known what chemical reactions occur inside nanometer-sized solution droplets, and currently, they are indirectly inferred through reaction products.

Professor Seo plans to establish a technique to observe molecular movements and chemical reactions in nanometer-sized solutions using synchrotron radiation accelerators and elucidate the reaction mechanisms.

If the research proceeds successfully, it is expected to present models of chemical reactions completely different from those known so far.

◆Materials

In the materials field, a total of 7 projects will be supported in areas that can contribute to strengthening the competitiveness of core industries such as semiconductors, displays, and batteries using advanced technologies, as well as medical-related fields like cell therapy.

Professor Jimin Lee of the Department of Molecular Life Sciences at Kangwon National University will embark on developing next-generation cell therapy technology capable of recognizing abnormal genetic changes and simultaneously providing treatment.

Cell therapy is a treatment method that involves collecting disease cells from a patient, converting them into normal cells, and reinjecting them into the patient to treat intractable diseases such as stroke and leukemia.

Professor Lee Jimin, Kangwon National University

Professor Lee focuses on cases where placental formation problems occur, such as infertility and preeclampsia, and challenges the development of next-generation cell therapy technology that does not introduce foreign genes extracted from other species like sheep or pigs.

If the project is successfully carried out, it is expected to minimize the increased risk of cancer and safety issues caused by the introduction of foreign genes, which were considered side effects of existing cell therapy methods.

Professor Yoobin Yoo of the Department of Physics at Sogang University plans to conduct research on factors governing the characteristics of ferroelectrics.

Ferroelectrics are materials whose polarization direction is controlled by external voltage and retain directionality even when the voltage is turned off, making them core components used in all electronic devices such as non-volatile memory and capacitors.

Ferroelectrics are known to break through memory integration limits and dramatically improve semiconductor performance, and active research is underway worldwide.

However, ferroelectrics face many technical challenges to commercialization, such as non-uniform layering and changes in physical properties during device operation.

Professor Yoo plans to measure changes in light interference patterns occurring during device operation based on operando transmission electron microscopy analysis to observe structural changes in ferroelectrics in real time.

This research is expected to contribute to improving semiconductor integration by presenting electrical and structural models of ferroelectrics within operating semiconductor devices.

◆ICT

In the ICT field, a total of 9 projects were selected in future core technology research areas such as walking robot control and healthcare fields including next-generation retinal disease diagnostic equipment.

Professor Jemin Hwangbo of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at KAIST will develop technology enabling quadruped walking robots to autonomously find their destinations.

Quadruped walking robots are expected to replace humans in complex and dangerous situations such as disaster sites, construction, and exploration, and active research is ongoing.

However, current technology only allows pre-set movements on flat ground.

Professor Hwang Bo-je Min, KAIST

Professor Hwangbo challenges the development of quadruped walking robot technology that can simultaneously learn movement control and pathfinding, enabling it to autonomously find paths in complex and rugged terrains.

Professor Chulmin Joo of Yonsei University will develop technology to rapidly diagnose eye diseases with high resolution.

Eye diseases such as glaucoma and macular degeneration are known major causes of blindness, but existing general examination equipment cannot precisely measure retinal disease signals early, making diagnosis and treatment difficult.

Professor Joo will research technology that can visualize various cells present in the retina in three dimensions by developing a high-resolution polarization microscope and image restoration algorithms.

This research is expected not only to overcome the limitations of existing eye disease diagnostic technologies but also to provide results applicable to various fields such as measuring tissue structures and cell morphology within the human body.

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