Establishment of a Shared Platform for Marine and Fisheries Research Infrastructure

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Haeyoung] The government will activate the joint use of infrastructure such as research facilities and equipment in the marine and fisheries sector, and strategically expand scientific bases and exploration vessels necessary for research.

On the 22nd, the government announced a mid- to long-term roadmap for marine and fisheries research infrastructure containing these details.

To this end, the government plans to establish and operate the Marine and Fisheries Research Infrastructure Support Center, and support the construction and operation of new scientific bases and vessels, technical support, joint use, and education, aiming to increase the current joint utilization rate of around 10% to 50% by 2030 by creating a platform.

Specifically, a single-window platform will be built to integrate and share dispersed information on marine and fisheries research facilities and equipment, enabling one-stop services such as sharing and leasing. In addition, the government will support usage fees for large facilities of companies and universities, and systematically expand joint use by transferring unused equipment to small and medium enterprises. The Marine and Fisheries Research Infrastructure Joint Use Center will gradually expand its operations and designate cooperating institutions by detailed fields by 2027.

The level of marine and fisheries research infrastructure will also be raised from the current 80% compared to advanced countries to 90% in the future by establishing core research infrastructure.

From a mid- to long-term perspective, the government will support smartization in preparation for the 4th Industrial Revolution, such as smart ports and autonomous vessels, and accelerate technology development, verification, and commercialization related to carbon neutrality in the marine and fisheries sector, including eco-friendly vessels.

To strengthen strategic exploration of polar regions and oceans, infrastructure for expanding marine territory, such as the East Sea Marine Science Base and next-generation icebreaking research vessels, will also be expanded.

Furthermore, to create a self-sustaining ecosystem in the rapidly growing marine and fisheries new industry sector, demonstration centers for marine bio and marine robots will be established, and active support will be provided for startups and growth of companies.

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