"Solving Scientific Challenges with AI"... Government Launches Full-Scale 'K-Moonshot' Project

Aiming to Double Research Productivity by 2030
Pursuing 12 Major Missions Across 8 Key Areas

The government is set to actively pursue the 'K-Moonshot Project,' which aims to solve national science and technology challenges based on artificial intelligence (AI). The strategy is to shift the research and development (R&D) approach to an 'AI-centric' model, thereby doubling research productivity and strengthening the competitiveness of advanced industries.

The Ministry of Science and ICT announced that, in cooperation with the Korean Society for Technology, Innovation and Management Economics, it held the 'K-Moonshot Policy Promotion Strategy Seminar' on the 17th, where participants discussed the direction and strategies for transitioning to an AI-based R&D paradigm.

'K-Moonshot Policy Promotion Strategy Seminar' Poster. Provided by the Ministry of Science and ICT

The K-Moonshot is a large-scale, pan-governmental project that seeks to address core national challenges by integrating AI and science and technology. The government has set goals to double research productivity by 2030, and to solve 12 major national scientific challenges by 2035 in eight key areas: advanced bio, materials, future energy, physical AI, space, semiconductors, quantum, and others.

For example, key missions include using AI to increase the speed of new drug development by more than tenfold, or creating a humanoid society where humans and robots coexist.

During the seminar, there was a focused discussion on the need to realign science and technology policy directions and revamp the R&D system for the AI era. Professor Seo Ilwon of Chonnam National University explained that major countries are moving toward government-led research ecosystem coordination through mission-oriented innovation policy (MOIP), highlighting the policy significance of K-Moonshot.

Following this, Oh Daehyun, Director of Future Strategic Technology Policy at the Ministry of Science and ICT, introduced the K-Moonshot implementation strategy and emphasized the need for a national-level response as competition for AI-driven science and technology innovation intensifies. In particular, he announced plans to enhance mission execution capabilities by building a national science AI integrated platform and adopting a 'PD-centered responsible management system.'

During the panel discussion, experts from industry, academia, research, and government participated to identify the limitations of challenge-driven R&D and discussed institutional improvements needed for the K-Moonshot to take root, including the establishment of a responsible PM system, long-term investment, and the creation of a research culture that tolerates failure.

Director Oh Daehyun said, "As the competition for AI-based science and technology innovation has already begun, now is the golden time," adding, "We will pool the nation's AI resources and capabilities to establish this project as a real solution to scientific challenges."

An Junmo, President of the Korean Society for Technology, Innovation and Management Economics, stated, "I hope that K-Moonshot will go beyond being a policy declaration and become a practical system for research innovation."

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