Full-Scale Launch of Training Private Space Development Specialists

Ministry of Science and ICT Launches Two New Projects: 'NewSpace Leader Training' and 'On-site Education for University (Graduate) Students'

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] The government is set to actively begin training specialized personnel in response to the era of private sector-led space development (New Space).

The Ministry of Science and ICT announced on the 10th that it will launch two new projects, ‘New Space Leader Training’ and ‘Field Education for University (Graduate) Students,’ to cultivate various space industry specialists.

To this end, the Ministry held a public contest for project execution institutions in February and selected three organizations: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), and Korea Testing Laboratory (KTL). The ‘New Space Leader Training’ program targets individuals with a master’s degree or higher, who will participate directly in satellite development programs at government-funded research institutes for two years, receiving apprenticeship-style practical training. The goal is to cultivate top-tier experts capable of satellite system engineering. Approximately 10 participants will be selected per cohort over three cohorts. The project execution institution is KAIST Satellite Technology Research Center, which will receive a total government budget of 3 billion KRW over six years (2021?2026), with 500 million KRW annually.

The ‘Field Education for University (Graduate) Students’ program supports universities by providing experimental and practical courses at institutions equipped with specialized space facilities and equipment. This project aims to assist universities that find it difficult to possess expensive facilities, equipment, and experts. Each institution will offer courses twice a year, in the first and second half, with about 15 students per course to ensure effective hands-on training. The project execution institutions are Korea Aerospace Research Institute and Korea Testing Laboratory’s Space Component Testing Center. Each institution will receive 150 million KRW annually from 2021 to 2025, totaling 750 million KRW.

Lee Chang-yoon, Director of the Large-scale Public Research Policy Division at the Ministry of Science and ICT, stated, “As the paradigm of space development shifts to New Space, private sector participation in space development is expanding, and the demand for space specialists in companies is increasing.” He added, “To lay the foundation for the development of the space industry and enhance South Korea’s space development capabilities, we will actively cultivate core space specialists, which are essential elements.”

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