Small Modular Reactors Commercialized by 2030... Development of 5th Generation Fighter Jet Engines Also Underway

National Strategic Technology Special Committee Establishes Mission-Centered Strategic Roadmap in 5 Areas
Next-Generation Nuclear Power, Aerospace, Next-Generation Communication, Advanced Robotics, Cybersecurity, etc.
Outline of Policy to Foster '12 Major National Strategic Technologies' Formulated

A national strategic technology research and development (R&D) mission roadmap has been established, focusing on the commercialization technology of Small Modular Reactors (SMR) and achieving self-reliance in core technologies for launch vehicles and satellites in the space sector. The outline of the policy to foster the ‘12 Major National Strategic Technologies’ has also been revealed. The 12 fields include semiconductors and displays, secondary batteries, advanced mobility, next-generation nuclear power, advanced bio, aerospace and marine, hydrogen, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI), next-generation communications, advanced robotics and manufacturing, and quantum technologies.

On the 1st, the Ministry of Science and ICT announced that the National Strategic Technology Special Committee of the National Science and Technology Advisory Council has established and approved strategic roadmaps centered on missions in five fields: next-generation nuclear power, aerospace, next-generation communications, advanced robotics, and cybersecurity. The strategic roadmap identifies core technologies requiring technological sovereignty and sets missions to be achieved by 2030.

In the next-generation nuclear power sector, it was decided to secure world-class pressurized water reactor (PWR)-type SMRs. Core technologies for advanced reactors such as high-temperature gas reactors, sodium-cooled fast reactors, and molten salt reactors will be secured, along with customized fuel technologies.

In the aerospace and marine sectors, five key technologies will be pursued, including large multi-stage combustion cycle engine technology, which will be central to next-generation launch vehicles. Core components for satellite payloads, such as Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) capable of distinguishing objects as small as 25 cm, will be localized, and soft-landing technologies necessary for developing a 1.8-ton-class lunar lander will also be secured.

In the aviation sector, core engines for 4.5 to 5-generation fighter jets will be developed, and core technologies for engines for 6th-generation fighter jets will be preemptively developed. In the marine sector, support will be provided to secure technologies for marine resource exploration and mining.

Next-generation communication technology aims to secure standard patents to lead 6G. Core technologies enabling speeds 50 times faster than current levels (1 terabit per second) and reducing latency to one-tenth will be secured by 2026. Along with strengthening the supply chain in the communication sector, which is directly linked to security, the localization rate of 6G core components will also be increased.

The advanced robotics sector aims to realize AI-based autonomous robots. The goal is to develop technologies for ‘human-level autonomous robots.’

In the cybersecurity sector, a system will be established that allows cybersecurity experts to participate from the software development stage, including the ‘Software Bill of Materials (SBOM)’ system, which major countries are mandating. Quantum-resistant cryptography to counteract the neutralization of existing cryptographic systems, AI-utilized security, security technologies for AI, and the localization of industrial control system security management to respond to attacks on national infrastructure will also be developed and promoted.

On the same day, the National Strategic Technology Special Committee additionally selected four candidate projects for national strategic technology projects: ▲ AI semiconductor utilization and K-Cloud technology development ▲ advanced semiconductor packaging leading technology development ▲ development of electroluminescent display technology and ecosystem establishment ▲ biofoundry infrastructure construction.

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