'K-Moonshot Project' Launched: "Doubling Research Productivity with AI by 2030"

MOU Signed Between Ministry of Science and ICT and Partner Companies
Deputy Prime Minister Background Hoon: "Pursuing the 'AI Apollo Era'"

Photo by Baek Jonghun, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT, Yonhap News

The "K-Moonshot" project, which leverages artificial intelligence (AI) to tackle national challenges, is now officially underway. The government plans to double research productivity through AI by 2030 and solve 12 major national challenges across eight key sectors—including advanced biotechnology, materials, future energy, and physical AI—by 2035.

On March 11, the Ministry of Science and ICT announced that it held a "K-Moonshot Strategic Partnership Business Agreement Ceremony" at The Plaza Hotel in Seoul, with participation from domestic AI and infrastructure companies, as well as firms in advanced biotechnology, materials, and future energy sectors.

The K-Moonshot strategic initiative is a nationwide project that aims to address core national challenges and accelerate scientific and technological innovation by converging AI with science and technology. This agreement ceremony marks the first concrete step toward implementing the K-Moonshot, and, so far, 161 companies have expressed their intention to participate in the initiative.

Attendees at the ceremony included Background Hoon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT, as well as leaders from AI and infrastructure firms and representatives from companies involved in the eight K-Moonshot mission areas, totaling more than 50 participants. Among the 161 companies that have expressed interest in participating, a "K-Moonshot Corporate Partnership" will be established, focusing on 88 AI and infrastructure companies specializing in AI models, computing, and data. Companies in the mission sectors will later collaborate through mission-specific divisions to be formed under the "K-Moonshot Steering Committee."

The corporate partnership will be organized into three divisions: AI models, computing and network, and data. It will promote the provision of AI resources, technology cooperation, joint research and development, and demonstration projects, as well as the creation of an AI-based science and technology ecosystem. In addition, various incentives will be provided to partner companies, such as access to research data, graphics processing units (GPUs), infrastructure support, and assistance for subsequent commercialization.

During the event, partner companies and government-funded research institutes (including KIST, ETRI, and KISTI) discussed ways to collaborate for the advancement of the K-Moonshot initiative. Participants agreed that, given the rapid competition among major countries such as the United States and China, as well as global big tech, in AI-driven scientific and technological innovation, Korea must also pool the capabilities and resources of industry, academia, research, and government to accelerate AI-based research innovation.

Deputy Prime Minister Background Hoon emphasized, "Now is the golden time to rally the nation’s capabilities, as AI is fundamentally redesigning not just technological advancement but the very way we conduct scientific research." He added, "With the same sense of mission as preparing a lunar lander to explore the unknown universe, we will pursue the K-Moonshot aimed at ushering in the 'AI Apollo era,' so that the Republic of Korea can leap forward as a leader in future technologies, rather than merely following technological trends."

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