Preventing Regional Extinction Through the Activation of Science and Technology

Government Announces the 6th Comprehensive Plan for Local Science and Technology Promotion

Minister Lee Jong-ho of the Ministry of Science and ICT is delivering a speech at the 6th Local Science and Technology Promotion Comprehensive Plan Presentation held in Busan on the morning of the 11th. Photo by Ministry of Science and ICT

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] The government has announced plans to address the so-called local extinction issues, such as population decline and economic recession in regions, by revitalizing scientific and technological research.

On the morning of the 11th, the Ministry of Science and ICT announced the '6th Comprehensive Plan for Local Science and Technology Promotion (2023?27)' in Busan, revealing these intentions.

The basic direction of this comprehensive plan is for regions to lead scientific and technological innovation, with the government actively supporting these efforts. It contains the policy direction for the next five years aimed at restoring regional self-sustainability based on science and technology. The share of domestic gross production in regions excluding the metropolitan area and Daejeon has continuously decreased from 49.3% in 2000 to 48.4% in 2010, 46.5% in 2017, and 45.0% in 2020. The number of basic local governments facing extinction risks due to population decline has surged from 85 in 2017 to 93 in 2019 and 105 in 2020.

The government plans to actively promote the resolution of imbalances between the metropolitan area and regions through science and technology. To this end, it has prepared three major strategies and nine key tasks. First, regions will lead scientific and technological innovation, and the government will practically implement a support system. By establishing regional universities and research institutes as hubs, research capabilities will be strengthened, and based on this, industry-academia-research collaboration will be activated to enhance the competitiveness of regional companies and industries.

Specifically, to establish a science and technology innovation system led by regions and supported by the government, the following will be promoted: ▲ strengthening strategic investment in regional R&D and expanding investment ▲ enhancing the functions of dedicated regional science and technology policy agencies and expanding them nationwide ▲ organizing and operating regional science and technology strategy meetings. Additionally, the Regional Science and Technology Innovation Act will be enacted in the first half of this year to provide a legal basis for these initiatives.

To strengthen the capabilities of regional innovation actors, plans include ▲ nurturing regional universities and research institutes as regional innovation hubs ▲ promoting collaboration among regional universities, research institutes, and companies ▲ pursuing a three-stage project for the growth of promising regional companies to create regional unicorns.

To establish a virtuous cycle where excellent talent is cultivated and settles in the regions, the plan includes ▲ training outstanding talent needed by regional industries and linking them to local employment ▲ improving living conditions for regional talent ▲ promoting regional science culture and digital diffusion.

Minister of Science and ICT Lee Jong-ho said, “Leap and growth based on scientific and technological innovation can be equally applied not only to the nation but also to regions. The government and local governments must jointly engage in scientific and technological innovation. By having regions proactively establish and implement science and technology innovation policies and the government fully supporting these efforts, regions can regain vitality through growth tailored to their unique characteristics.”

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