"Quantum Computing, AI, and Defense Expansion"... The Need for Proactive Investment in Strategic Technologies Identified by Industry Experts

National Strategic Technology System Advancement Industry Forum Held
"Technological Hegemony Is a National Security Issue"
Industry and Academia Propose Solutions for Advancing Strategic Technologies

"Technological hegemony is not simply an industrial issue; it is a core concern that shakes the very foundations of national security and the overall economic order."

Park Ingyu, Director General of the Science and Technology Innovation Bureau at the Ministry of Science and ICT, is delivering a congratulatory speech at the Industry Forum on the Advancement of National Strategic Technology Systems held on the 12th. Ministry of Science and ICT.

Choi Wonseok, Research Fellow at the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy, emphasized this point at the "National Strategic Technology System Advancement Industry Forum," which was co-hosted by the Korea Industrial Technology Association (Chairman Koo Ja-kyun) and the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Chairman Chey Tae-won) on September 12. He stated, "The government must establish a comprehensive framework that encompasses the creation of a long-term research environment, responses to subsidy regulations, and strategies for entering overseas markets."

The forum was organized to gather input from the field on advancing the strategic technology system. Experts from industry, government, academia, and research institutes came together to share current issues related to strategic technologies and to discuss how to swiftly secure technological sovereignty and the policy direction the government should take to achieve this.

Industry representatives called for a "selection and concentration" strategy from the government. Jung Byungchan, CEO of Hanwha Robotics, said, "The government should boldly focus on three to four core areas, while also maintaining at least a minimal ecosystem in six to seven foundational technology fields that could have future potential."

Jo Minkook, Executive Director at Osstem Implant, suggested, "For the achievements of AI-based inspection and manufacturing to spread, it is essential to provide testbeds and shared infrastructure that small and medium-sized enterprises can utilize."

The automotive industry also voiced its perspective. Bae Hongyong, Executive Vice President at HL Mando, stated, "Technologies in autonomous driving and sensors can be expanded to robotics and the defense industry," adding, "Regulatory easing and special support are needed to facilitate entry into the defense sector."

Choi Joonki, CEO of Daedong AI LAB, stressed, "To accelerate AI transformation among small and medium-sized enterprises, a multi-faceted support strategy is required, including the development of data infrastructure and workforce training."

Representing academia, Lee Joongoo, Professor at KAIST and CEO of Qunova, said, "Quantum computing is advancing at a pace two to three times faster than expected," and emphasized, "Like the early days of the IT industry, the government should lead with initial investments to prepare for global competition."

The government also announced its intention to listen to opinions from the field. Park Ingyu, Director of the Science and Technology Innovation Bureau at the Ministry of Science and ICT, stated, "The sustainable growth of the Republic of Korea stems from the development of technology-driven enterprises," and pledged, "We will strengthen the national strategic technology ecosystem in cooperation with the private sector." Shin Soyoung, Director of Strategic Technology Development at the Ministry of Science and ICT, said, "We will reorganize strategic technologies to reflect the needs of the research field and proactively prepare for NEXT strategic technologies, focusing on areas that are essential to secure in the competition for technological hegemony."

Ko Seogon, Executive Vice Chairman of the Korea Industrial Technology Association, stressed, "Close cooperation between the public and private sectors is more important than ever," and added, "We will strengthen our role as a bridge to ensure that the voices of companies are reflected in policy."

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