Summary
- To prepare for the significant expansion of international cooperation budget from next year, discussions will focus on promoting international joint research, establishing a foundation for collaboration with outstanding research groups abroad, and more.
- The Forum will gather diverse input from young scientists in their 30s to 40s, whose research interests are in the fields such as quantum, AI, and advanced biotechnology, the promising areas of collaboration for next 2-3 years.
The Ministry of Science and ICT (Minister Lee Jong Ho, hereinafter
referred to as "MSIT") announced on September 19th,
Tuesday, the commencement of the "Science and Technology Diplomacy Forum
(a deliberative body which will be in operation from September to December
2023)."
The Science and Technology Diplomacy Forum is an expert deliberative body
that has been held three times since 2021. The aim of the forum is to identify
policy agendas related to international cooperation and diplomacy in the field
of science and technology and to provide a platform for conversation among
related experts, to prepare for the era of the competition for technological
hegemony.
This year's Science and Technology Diplomacy Forum will be different from
the one-off events held previously. Instead, it will involve discussions and
debates over a period of three months to produce feasible output. In terms of
contents, the Forum will explore ways to implement international cooperation in
the field of science and technology in line with the administration's
diplomatic vision, such as realizing South Korea as a global/international
pivotal state. It will also seek to identify international cooperation policy
and project agendas in preparation for the significant expansion of
international cooperation-related research and development (R&D) budget
starting next year. Additionally, support measures for researchers'
international cooperation activities will be devised through the forum.
To better facilitate such goals, the Science and Technology Diplomacy
Forum has been organized into two subgroups: one focusing on R&D topics
(R&D Subgroup), including international joint research and overseas
personnel exchange programs, and the other focusing on non-R&D topics
(Non-R&D Subgroup), including coordination of international cooperation
activities and establishment of a foundation for those actions. For each
subgroup, scientific experts and research administration specialists in their
30s to 40s, who are actively engaged in the fields such as quantum, artificial
intelligence (AI), advanced biotechnology, space and materials, are appointed
as members. These fields are considered as a promising area for collaboration,
of which the importance will constantly grow within next 2-3 years. This
organization scheme intended to bring together creative and fresh perspectives
and recommendations.
Furthermore, to mature the discussion process, there will be two formal
meetings for each subgroup in September and October, followed by a roundup
meeting in November to consolidate the results from the discussions. Finally, a
comprehensive forum for deliberation will be held in December, which will
invite subgroup members, scientists and engineers affiliated with domestic and
international institutes, and the general public. The outcomes from and
presentations made through these subgroup discussions and the comprehensive
forum will be utilized as a resource in formulating MSIT's international
cooperation policy direction for the following year.
The first R&D Subgroup meeting will address strategies for stimulating
international joint research with overseas research institutes, in response to
the budget expansion for international cooperation R&D in 2024. The
opinions of young researchers will be gathered on procedural methods and
institutional improvements for promoting bilateral and multilateral joint
research and diversification of target countries and channels/routes for international
cooperation.
Meanwhile, the Non-R&D Subgroup will address specific measures for
establishing collaborative platforms and networks with excellent research
groups abroad, including foreign and expatriate researchers. In particular, the
subgroup will look for strategies to attract participation of outstanding
overseas brainpower into domestic R&D ecosystem by promoting better
exchanges and communication efforts. Moreover, enhancement of cooperation with
overseas Korean scientists and scholars through overseas Korean associations
will be discussed.
Director-General Kim Sung Gyu of the International Cooperation Bureau highlighted
that MSIT will continue to develop policies, regulatory framework, and various
initiatives for international cooperation in science and technology, of which
the significance has been and is expected to increase constantly into the
future. He said, "MSIT will attentively listen to opinions of young
researchers, who will play a pivotal role in future international cooperation
as they become leading figures inside both domestic and overseas research
landscapes, and the Ministry will be sure to incorporate these opinions into
our policies."
For further information, please contact the Public
Relations Division (Phone: +82-44-202-4034, E-mail: msitmedia@korea.kr)
of the Ministry of Science and ICT.
Please refer to the attached PDF.