"Korean Science Investment, Keep It Up Like Now... Nobel Prize Will Come Within 15 Years"

2021 Nobel Chemistry Laureate David MacMillan, Professor at Princeton University, Reveals at KIST Lecture and Press Conference on the 9th

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] "Keep investing in Korean science just as you are now."

David MacMillan, a Nobel Chemistry Prize laureate last year and a professor at Princeton University in the United States, praised South Korea's investment in science and technology research and development (R&D). After giving a keynote lecture at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) in Hongneung, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 9th, Professor MacMillan said at a press conference, "The level of investment in scientific research in Korea is world-class. I will ask President Yoon Seok-yeol to continue investing in scientific research at the current level."

Professor MacMillan, who visited Korea to attend President Yoon's inauguration ceremony, mentioned that Korea's R&D investment accounts for 5% of its gross domestic product (GDP), saying, "This is among the highest levels in the world, and continuous investment in science, which can drive development not only in the scientific field but also across society, is necessary."

Professor MacMillan also expressed a bright outlook for Korean Nobel science laureates. Although he did not mention specific names, he predicted, "There is a possibility that three Korean researchers will win the Nobel Prize. Within 15 years, two of them will receive the Nobel Prize." This indicates that Korea's national scientific capabilities are sufficient to produce Nobel laureates in science at any time.

Regarding Korea's research evaluation system, Professor MacMillan advised, "Those who decide on research funding or evaluate research are obsessed with numbers such as the number of published papers rather than understanding the value of the research," adding, "This absurd situation is happening in countries worldwide. Improvement is urgent."

He also proudly showed a photo taken with Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, saying, "When I meet people in Korea and show them this photo, they like it."

Last year, Professor MacMillan received the Nobel Chemistry Prize together with Professor Benjamin List of the Max Planck Institute in Germany for developing the "asymmetric organocatalyst" technology, which revolutionized the production of drugs such as sitagliptin, a well-known diabetes treatment. He has a deep connection to Korea, as his spouse is Ji-in Kim, a Korean-American and Vice President of New Drug Development at Cardmon in the United States.

Meanwhile, on the 11th, President Yoon will meet Professor MacMillan, who attended the inauguration ceremony, and Randy Schekman, a 2013 Nobel Physiology or Medicine laureate and professor at the University of California, Berkeley.

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