'The Core of the Digital New Deal' Cloud... Public-Private Joint TF Launched

3rd Cloud Computing Development
Basic Plan Establishment TF

[Asia Economy Reporter Minyoung Cha] To explore ways to utilize cloud computing, which is called the core of the 'Digital New Deal,' the government and industry-academia-research stakeholders are forming a joint task force (TF). The focus has shifted one step beyond the overall adoption of cloud computing in the industry to public cloud, cloud industry, cloud ecosystem, and security assurance.

On the 9th, the Ministry of Science and ICT held the inaugural meeting of the task force (TF) for establishing the '3rd Basic Plan for Cloud Computing Development (22~25)' chaired by Second Vice Minister Seok-Young Jang. The TF consists of about 40 members, including related ministries, industry and academic experts, and cloud-dedicated organizations.

This TF was organized reflecting the situation where the transition to a data economy based on artificial intelligence is accelerating and non-face-to-face interactions due to COVID-19 have become routine. It aims to help spread cloud computing, a core infrastructure of the Digital New Deal, and secure the competitiveness of the domestic cloud industry.

Under the TF, four subcommittees will operate: ▲Public Cloud ▲Cloud Industry ▲Cloud Ecosystem ▲Security Assurance. Each subcommittee will select key tasks to be finalized by the TF.

Since the enactment of the Cloud Computing Development Act in 2015, the government has established the '1st Basic Plan for Cloud Computing Development (16~18)' and the '2nd Basic Plan for Cloud Computing Development (19~21)' to lay the foundation for cloud expansion. In June this year, the government plans to prepare the '3rd Basic Plan for Cloud Computing Development (22~25)' across ministries and submit it to the Information and Communications Strategy Committee for approval.

Last year, to activate data and artificial intelligence, key tasks of the Digital New Deal, the government prepared the 'Cloud Industry Development Strategy in Preparation for the Data Economy and AI Era' and is promoting industry revitalization through full transition to public cloud, procurement system innovation such as the introduction of a digital service specialized contract system, cloud voucher projects, and flagship projects.

This TF focuses on ways to better utilize cloud computing, moving beyond previous plans that emphasized cloud adoption in industry, public sector, and society. It aims to comprehensively activate the ecosystem by considering all upstream and downstream industries, including full-scale cloud expansion that can accelerate AI and the data economy, data center policies, workforce development plans, and overseas expansion.

At the TF inaugural meeting held in the afternoon at the Seoul office of the National Information Society Agency (NIA), participants freely exchanged opinions on the current status of Korea's cloud industry competitiveness and the direction the domestic cloud industry should take, as well as the promotion direction of the 3rd Basic Plan for Cloud Computing Development. Future discussions by subcommittee will review and prepare tasks on topics such as public cloud expansion, cloud industry revitalization, cloud ecosystem formation, and cloud security and reliability assurance.

Additionally, the Ministry of Science and ICT plans to hold expert meetings both online and offline to gather opinions from the private sector and others, and will allow anyone in the public to propose cloud-related policies through the Cloud Innovation Center website.

Second Vice Minister Seok-Young Jang of the Ministry of Science and ICT said, "Cloud computing is evolving beyond simple infrastructure for improving work efficiency and cost reduction into XaaS (Everything as a Service) services that converge with other technologies such as data and artificial intelligence. The competitiveness of the cloud industry is the national competitiveness in the era of the 4th Industrial Revolution." He added, "Through the 3rd Basic Plan for Cloud Computing, I hope that our cloud industry will grow explosively and that the Digital New Deal will succeed, with effective measures derived through the TF."

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