Four Major Strategies for Advancing 'Brain Science' with Keywords 'Aging Population and Future Society'

Government to Confirm Through Science and Technology Ministers' Meeting on the 26th

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] The government has decided to focus investments on core technologies in each field and promote challenging research programs to advance brain science. Strategies have also been established to foster the brain industry ecosystem and strengthen the strategic nature of research and development (R&D) investments.

On the afternoon of the 26th, the Ministry of Science and ICT held a meeting of science and technology-related ministers and finalized the "Brain Research and Development Investment Strategy." The global brain research industry is currently on a growth trajectory, with brain research evolving toward creating new markets such as fundamental understanding of human brain functions and brain-machine interfaces, based on the development of innovative brain observation technologies and convergence with other fields like artificial intelligence. The global brain industry market size is expected to grow from 127 trillion KRW in 2019 to 207 trillion KRW by 2027.

Accordingly, based on past achievements, the government, in collaboration with related ministries, has finalized four major investment strategies to maximize the diverse potential of brain research and support the formation of a domestic brain research and industry ecosystem. Aiming to establish a convergence and collaboration-centered brain R&D system, the strategies include ▲ focused investment in core technologies by field, ▲ promotion of challenging research programs, ▲ creation of a brain research and industry ecosystem, and ▲ strengthening the strategic nature of R&D investments.

Regarding focused investment in core technologies by field, the government plans to support the development of core technologies in detailed brain research areas such as brain function, brain diseases, and brain engineering, and to enhance support for clinical linkage and commercialization to promote the utilization of R&D outcomes. To overcome brain diseases, support for innovative treatment technologies by disease type and next-generation platform technology development will be expanded. Support will also be strengthened for research on convergence with various fields such as electronics and IT, as well as for fundamental understanding of brain operating principles.

Challenging research programs will also be promoted. To deepen understanding of brain functions and strengthen brain disease research capabilities, the construction of brain maps will continue. The primate research base will be expanded, and support for related international cooperation will also be increased. By strengthening support for the development of convergence technologies such as the recently emerging brain-machine interface (BMI), the government plans to promote the development of rehabilitation and treatment technologies for patients with disabilities and brain diseases, as well as new services and products through brain research equipment and ICT convergence.

To create a brain research and industry ecosystem, a data fusion system will be established to increase the utilization rate of dispersed brain research data, and the system for securing, managing, and distributing various resources such as brain tissue, blood, and cerebrospinal fluid from the Korea Brain Bank will be advanced. To promote the practical application and industrialization of brain-related technologies (Brain-Tech), the government will strengthen support for startups and small and medium-sized enterprises in the brain field through discovering promising commercialization technologies and demonstration support, identifying corporate demands, promoting joint projects among industry, academia, research institutes, and hospitals, and various support programs.

To strengthen the strategic nature of brain R&D investments, the government plans to enhance the R&D project system to address investment gaps and strategically invest in the brain field, discover large-scale public-private collaboration projects to secure innovative technologies, and promote private investment. Support for convergence research will be reinforced, and a system to facilitate collaboration among research entities, such as a pan-government brain R&D consultative body, will be established.

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