Korea and U.S. Sign 'Technology Prosperity Deal (TPD)'... Elevate to Technology Alliance in AI, Quantum, and Space

Ministry of Science and ICT and White House OSTP
to Cooperate Broadly on Future Core Technologies

South Korea and the United States have signed the Korea-U.S. Technology Prosperity MOU (Technology Prosperity Deal, TPD) to strengthen cooperation across future core technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), quantum technology, biotechnology, and space.

This agreement is a major outcome of the Korea-U.S. summit, with Minister of Science and ICT and Deputy Prime Minister Background Hoon, and Michael Kratsios, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), officially signing on the 9th.

Background Hoon, Deputy Prime Minister for Science and Minister of Science and ICT.

This agreement is significant in that it expands the scope of bilateral technology cooperation, which has continued since the 1992 Korea-U.S. Science and Technology Agreement in areas like nuclear energy and space, to emerging core technologies such as AI, quantum technology, and synthetic biology. Through this MOU, the two countries have set a joint goal of "ensuring prosperity for future generations and securing trusted technology leadership."

The Korea-U.S. Technology Prosperity MOU will be pursued along two main pillars. First, in the area of "AI Application and Innovation Acceleration," the two countries will jointly develop an innovation-friendly AI policy framework and strengthen export cooperation across the full stack of AI technologies. In particular, they plan to establish practical cooperative systems in areas such as dataset development, safe use of AI, and the export of trustworthy AI technologies.

Second, in the field of "Trusted Technology Leadership," the two countries will promote joint research and implementation plans across future industries, including next-generation communications, pharmaceutical and bio supply chains, quantum technology, and space exploration. In addition, they intend to further solidify the foundation of bilateral science and technology cooperation by strengthening research security and activating personnel exchanges.

This MOU is evaluated as a technology alliance that encompasses everything from basic research to strategic technologies and research security, and is expected to serve as a foundation for the two countries to secure joint leadership amid global technological competition.

To ensure the effective implementation of the MOU, the two countries have agreed to discuss a detailed cooperation roadmap centered on the Korea-U.S. Joint Committee on Science and Technology. Based on this, they plan to hold a joint committee meeting in Washington, D.C. next year to formulate more concrete action plans.

Ha Jungwoo, Senior Presidential Secretary for AI Future Planning, stated, "This MOU is an opportunity to jointly foster technological sovereignty based on people-centered, inclusive AI and private sector-led innovation," emphasizing, "AI R&D and full-stack export cooperation will serve as a stepping stone for Korea to become one of the world's top three AI powers."

Background Hoon, Minister of Science and ICT and Deputy Prime Minister, remarked, "As the name suggests, this agreement is a symbolic promise for the prosperity of future generations," adding, "It will further strengthen the alliance of freedom and mutual growth through science and technology, and following the recent MOUs signed with BlackRock and OpenAI in the United States, technology exchange and investment between Korea and the U.S. will become even more active."

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