'Key Investment' National Strategic Technologies Reduced Sharply from 100 to 20

Ministry of Science and ICT to Unveil '5th Basic Plan for Science and Technology' on the 18th

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] The government is promoting innovation policies based on science and technology to achieve four major goals: national innovation, economic recovery, social inclusion, and the survival of humanity and the nation. However, it is considering a plan to strategically concentrate investment by drastically reducing the existing 100 key strategic technologies to around 20.

The Ministry of Science and ICT held an operating committee meeting of the National Science and Technology Advisory Council on the afternoon of the 18th and finalized the "5th Basic Plan for Science and Technology (2023?2027) Establishment Direction (Draft)," which contains the mid- to long-term promotion direction of science and technology-based innovation policies.

The Basic Plan for Science and Technology is established by the Minister of Science and ICT and serves as the highest-level plan in the field of science and technology, presenting the national science and technology policy direction for the next five years. Each central administrative agency and local government establishes and implements annual implementation plans for the tasks of the Basic Plan for Science and Technology.

The established direction includes the analysis results of the internal and external environment related to science and technology, the promotion direction of science and technology-based innovation policies, the composition (draft) of the 5th Basic Plan for Science and Technology, and the establishment system and procedures.

According to this, rapid digital transformation after COVID-19 has caused economic and social changes, and new global issues such as technological hegemony and climate change have emerged. Accordingly, major countries such as the United States, Japan, China, and the European Union (EU) are presenting directions for science and technology-based innovation policies that link not only technology development but also policy tools in various social sectors to respond to national issues, and are reorganizing their promotion systems.

Our government also plans to expand the scope of policies in this Basic Plan by advancing existing science and technology policies and, based on the National Science and Technology Innovation System (NIS 2.0) established in 2018 as part of the national R&D innovation plan, prepare innovation measures for the entire national society. In addition, the government will jointly present national-level performance goals and promotion directions for science and technology-based innovation policies, as well as the division of roles among ministries. During the establishment process, collaboration will be expanded not only with science and technology experts but also with related ministries and research institutes in economics, humanities, and social sciences such as KDI, STEPI, and the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade. The government plans to progressively inherit the major contents and achievements of the Science and Technology Future Strategy 2045, which is the mid- to long-term policy direction for science and technology, and past basic plans.

Through the Basic Plan composition draft, the government is particularly reviewing goals such as strengthening resilience for rapid recovery after the COVID-19 crisis, building social safety nets to enhance social inclusion, and resolving international issues to ensure the survival of humanity and the nation through the 5th Basic Plan for Science and Technology. It is also reviewing ways to strengthen science and technology innovation capabilities, including full-cycle innovation in R&D investment, execution, and management in the era of technological hegemony; utilization of R&D achievements to pioneer new markets after digital transformation; securing talent and advancing regional research infrastructure in preparation for the population cliff; and international cooperation and science culture systems to enhance national prestige.

From a technological perspective, based on trends in major countries such as the U.S., China, and the EU, the government plans to present around 20 national strategic technology fields and propose Korea’s response directions. This is a significantly reduced number compared to the previous 100 technologies, and the Ministry of Science and ICT plans to prepare investment strategies by sector within the national R&D mid- to long-term investment strategy.

The Ministry of Science and ICT will form and operate a Basic Plan Establishment Committee, collecting and involving opinions from various stakeholders including committees under the Science and Technology Advisory Council, related institutions and ministries, sectoral stakeholders, and the general public. The committee will be formed by September, a draft will be prepared by March next year, and the final plan will be confirmed in 2022.

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