President Moon to Attend National Science and Technology Advisory Council on the 21st... Preparing for the 'National R&D 100 Trillion Era' (Comprehensive)

Cheong Wa Dae Hosts 3rd Full Meeting of National Science and Technology Advisory Council... Korea at 5th Place Globally in National R&D, Approaching 100 Trillion Won Era

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] President Moon Jae-in is preparing for the era of 100 trillion won in national research and development investment (R&D) with science and technology experts.

The Blue House announced on the 18th that President Moon Jae-in plans to preside over the "3rd National Science and Technology Advisory Council Plenary Meeting" (Science and Technology Advisory Council) on the 21st.

Regarding this meeting, two agenda items have been confirmed: ▲ Proactive support strategies for technological innovation in private companies ▲ Research and development strategies to realize public safety and a comfortable life. The meeting will be held via video conference between the Blue House and the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) from 2:00 PM to 3:20 PM on the 21st.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Blue House will be attended by 15 people including Chief Policy Officer Kim Sang-jo and Senior Secretary for Jobs Lim Seo-jeong. Thirty-one members, including private members led by Yeom Han-woong, Vice Chairman of the Science and Technology Advisory Council, and government members from various ministries, will participate in the meeting via video at KIST.

Park Soo-kyung, Science and Technology Advisor to the Blue House, explained, "This event was organized to report to the public on research and development policies that provide more benefits to the people who have generously supported science and technology despite difficult economic conditions, at a time when we are on the verge of entering the era of 100 trillion won in national research and development investment (private + government)."

National R&D investment surpassed 86 trillion won in 2018, 89 trillion won in 2019, and 90 trillion won in 2020, and is expected to approach 100 trillion won in 2021.

In particular, the Blue House stated, "First, over the next two years, we will make every effort to support technology development investment and commercialization by private companies, which have been weakened by the COVID-19 shock, to revitalize the shrinking national economy," and added, "We will prioritize research and development policies to solve problems such as climate change, infectious diseases, and fine dust, which have become serious threats to the daily lives of the people."

The Blue House explained that the total scale of national research and development is a measure of national power and status in the global economy. Currently, countries with national R&D scales exceeding 100 trillion won include the United States, China, Japan, and Germany. South Korea ranks 5th, France 6th, and the United Kingdom 7th.

The Blue House stated, "The United States, Japan, and Germany have increased the proportion of government R&D investment in basic research and research with high public interest such as environment, health, and safety," and explained, "With the rise of new protectionism and the COVID-19 shock, there is a trend to tighten efforts again to revitalize domestic manufacturing, enhance advanced technology competitiveness, and create jobs."

Meanwhile, the Science and Technology Advisory Council was established in 1991 based on the Constitution and has operated as the highest-level science and technology body chaired by the president for the past 30 years.

Since the Moon Jae-in administration, its status and functions have been strengthened by integrating the deliberation function on government policies such as the government R&D budget (draft) and the advisory function on current issues and policy directions in the science and technology sector.

At the 1st plenary meeting on July 26, 2018, the council announced the "National R&D Innovation Plan" to realize the Moon Jae-in administration's "people-centered, autonomy and responsibility in science and technology."

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