Ministry of Science and ICT and Young Scientists Discuss Directions for Advancing National Strategic Technologies

Park Ingyu, Director of the Science and Technology Innovation Bureau, Attends YKAST Roundtable

Members of the Young Korean Academy of Science and Technology (YKAST), a group of young scientists and engineers, have presented their opinions to the government regarding the importance of core fields such as artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced biotechnology, the significance of interdisciplinary connections and convergence, and strategies for generating outcomes in national strategic technologies.

On the afternoon of September 23, Park Ingyu, Director of the Science and Technology Innovation Bureau at the Ministry of Science and ICT, attended the "National Strategic Technology Roundtable with Young Scientists and Engineers," hosted by YKAST at a restaurant in Seoul, where he discussed directions for advancing the national strategic technology framework.

Park Ingyu, Director of the Science and Technology Innovation Bureau at the Ministry of Science and ICT, is speaking at an event. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

YKAST (Young Korean Academy of Science and Technology) is the only academy in Korea dedicated to young scientists and engineers. It selects outstanding individuals under the age of 45 to participate in policy proposals and international exchanges. The academy typically consists of 150 young scientists with distinguished research achievements.

At the roundtable, the Ministry of Science and ICT gave a presentation on "Directions for Advancing the National Strategic Technology Framework." Following this, young scientists actively engaged in research across various fields-including basic science, engineering, agricultural life sciences, and medicine-shared their perspectives on challenges encountered in the field and suggested possible improvements.

Participants proposed that, to balance the generation of tangible outcomes through national strategic technologies with the long-term competitiveness of basic science, it is necessary to diversify and segment research and development (R&D) investments, including cross-disciplinary areas, and to implement policies that strengthen the connections among basic, applied, and industrial research.

Park Cheolmin, Chairperson of YKAST and Professor at Yonsei University's Department of Materials Science and Engineering, stated, "YKAST will continue to present the voices of young scientists and engineers so that their perspectives are reflected in national science and technology policy, and we will serve as a bridge connecting the research field with policymakers."

In response, Park Ingyu, Director of the Science and Technology Innovation Bureau, said, "Only when young scientists and engineers are able to conduct innovative research through their boundless ambition and brilliant creativity can Korea secure world-leading national strategic technologies. The government plans to develop measures to advance the national strategic technology framework so that young scientists and engineers can participate not only in basic science but also in securing national strategic technologies."

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