'K-Sensor Technology Development Project' Passes Preliminary Feasibility Study... 186.5 Billion KRW Invested Over 7 Years Starting Next Year

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Joo Sang-don] The K-Sensor technology development project has passed the preliminary feasibility study. Accordingly, 186.5 billion KRW will be intensively invested over seven years starting next year.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on the 13th that the National Research and Development Project Evaluation Committee has given final approval for the feasibility of the 'K-Sensor Technology Development Project.'

Sensors are small electronic components that detect external stimuli such as light, heat, and sound and convert them into electrical signals. With the spread of the data economy, global sensor demand is expected to exceed 10 trillion units by 2024. Accordingly, the sensor market is expected to grow at an average annual rate of over 11%, from $193.9 billion in 2020 to $332.8 billion in 2025.

The Korean government plans to secure global sensor competitiveness by supporting demand-based technology development and growth infrastructure construction in four major sectors?mobile, automotive, bio, and public?through the K-Sensor technology development project.

First, through market-competitive, future-leading, and sensor platform research and development (R&D), the project plans to secure core technologies and support entry into the global market. Market-competitive R&D will support demand-linked technology development that can secure short- and medium-term competitiveness in the four major sectors, promoting domestic companies' entry into the global sensor market. Future-leading R&D will predict future demand and technological development directions in the post-COVID and digital new deal era, supporting the acquisition of core technologies for next-generation sensor devices. Sensor platform R&D will develop sensor-based technologies to respond to future industrial demand and convergence technology development, such as form-factor free, artificial intelligence, low power consumption, and convergence.

The project will secure a manufacturing innovation platform that supports sensor prototype production and reliability evaluation, and also promote the development of MEMS element process technology necessary for advanced microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) sensor manufacturing. To this end, the manufacturing innovation platform will be established by installing sensor-related equipment in existing semiconductor infrastructure such as the Nano Convergence Technology Institute (Daejeon).

Efforts will also be made to support overseas marketing to promote the global market entry of domestic sensor companies. A 'K-Sensor Global Task Force' will be formed within the Korea Semiconductor Industry Association to provide consulting on overseas market information, local trends, and product promotion in the U.S., China, Japan, and other markets. To expand the global markets accessible to Korean companies, support will be provided for participation in international sensor exhibitions, as well as standard and certification technology development targeting regions where domestic companies wish to expand overseas.

Kang Kyung-sung, Director of Industrial Policy at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, said, "With the expansion of the 4th Industrial Revolution and the non-face-to-face economy, the importance of data is gradually increasing, and accordingly, the importance of sensors that collect and analyze data is also growing." He added, "The government plans to actively promote securing technological capabilities and infrastructure based on large-scale R&D support to enhance the competitiveness of domestic sensor companies, and the public and private sectors will work together to prepare measures for building a robust sensor industry ecosystem."

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