- MSIT announces the Digital Technology Standardization Strategy, which lays out measures for Korea’s leadership in standardization of 12 innovative digital technologies, such as AI, data, 6G, next-generation security, quantum, and digital content
The Ministry of Science and ICT (“MSIT”; Minister Lee Jong-Ho) announced that it has developed the Digital Technology Standardization Strategy (“Standardization Strategy”), a comprehensive strategy for Korea’s leadership in future technologies by integrating government policies, R&D, industries and services with a focus on standards.
Standardizing a technology ahead of other countries has recently emerged as a critical factor in deciding a country's technological dominance, which led to major countries using standardization as a strategic resource (for example, establishing national standardization policies and strengthening support for standardization activities) to raise their global competitiveness.
* e.g. US Government National Standards Strategy for Critical and Emerging Technology (May 2023); China's Implementation Plan for the New Industry Standardization Pilot Project 2023-2025 (August 2023); EU Standardisation Strategy (February 2022)
Korea, too, is actively working on shaping the norms of the international community's digital economy by boosting cooperation with allies and partners on international standardization (e.g. ROK-US Next Generation Critical and Emerging Technology Dialogue (launched in April 2023)) and publishing the Digital Bill of Rights, a new digital norm for universal digital order in the age of deepening digitalization.
The Standardization Strategy lays out the measures for standard research on critical and emerging technologies and international standardization of existing domestic technologies so that Korea can play a pivotal role in the process of international standardization cooperation.
The critical and emerging technology sectors include the twelve technologies—such as 6G, artificial intelligence, quantum information communication and next-generation security—selected by the government based on the analyses of domestic and international ICT standardization status, including the degree of standardization and expert evaluation, in line with the national strategies for technology development*. These technologies have high potential for Korea’s technological leadership, and it is critical to standardize them ahead of other countries.
* e.g. National Digital Strategy (September 2022), Critical and Emerging Technology Development Strategy (October 2022), New Growth 4.0 Strategy (December 2022)
Each technology sector has been categorized into "digital innovation technology" and "digital-based technology" according to the objectives of each strategy and Korea's degree of standardization, and customized strategies for each category have been created.
To be specific, for standardization of “digital innovation technologies,” a standard structural model* was adopted to identify 75 technologies to be standardized ahead of other countries; these technologies were then categorized into △promotion of R&D, △simultaneous promotion of R&D-standard R&D, and △promotion of standard R&D; finally, a roadmap suggesting the direction of standard R&D for the public and private sectors have been developed.
* A model for identifying potential standards to identify the demand for standards in the future
As for “digital-based technology,” 81 priority standards for prompt international standardization have been identified through SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis of markets, technologies, and standards. Furthermore, a strategy map was established by classifying the progress stages of international standardization into the following categories: △next-generation technologies, △leading competition, △chasing & cooperation, △sustainability/diffusion, and △strategic adoption.
In addition, by analyzing domestic and international service standards utilizing 12 critical technologies, 12 digital convergence service areas were derived, and a utilization map presenting ways to utilize digital convergence service standards was developed.
| Category |
Technologies |
|
Tailor-made strategy |
| Critical technologies |
Digital innovation technologies |
①AI, ②Data, ③Mobile communications, ④Next-generation security, ⑤Digital contents, ⑥Quantum information communications |
⇨ |
Road map |
| Digital infrastructure technologies |
⑦Intelligent network, ⑧Radio resource & environment, ⑨IoT, ⑩Cloud computing, ⑪Blockchain,⑫Broadcasting & media |
⇨ |
Strategy map |
| 12 Convergence services |
ICT Convergence |
①Public safety & disaster prevention ICT, ②Education ICT, ③Agricultural ICT, ④Robot ICT, ⑤UAV ICT, ⑥Industrial application ICT, ⑦Energy ICT, ⑧Manufacturing ICT, ⑨Health care ICT, ⑩Other convergence ICT |
⇨ |
Utilization map |
| Smart-X |
⑪Smart city, ⑫Smart vehicle |
The Ministry of Science and ICT and the Telecommunications Technology Association (TTA, Chairman Son Seung-hyun) formed a subcommittee on technology standard with 189 experts from industry, academia, and research institutions in 12 critical technology areas since March. Through a total of 92 meetings, they established standardization strategies.
The Digital Technology Standardization Strategy aims to enhance the connection between technology development and standardization by providing foundational data for ICT standard development and R&D project planning for the next year. It also plans to establish a virtuous cycle through tracking and managing the entire standardization cycle, from "standardization planning", "technology development and standard development projects" to "standard performance verification."
| Develop a strategy for standardization of digital technologies |
➡ |
Reflect ICT R&D Projects |
➡ |
Track domestic and int’l standardization |
➡ |
Verify standardization performance |
| Identify items for the standardization strategy in digital technologies where Korea can take leadership |
Link digital technology standardization strategy and R&D projects |
Track current digital technology standardization strategies within domestic&int’l standardization organizations |
Verify standardization performance through ICT standardization R&D performance management system |
Update the current status on the items of digital technology standardization strategy
※ The technologies identified as standardization targets in the standardization strategy are proposed by the technology demands for the 2024 ICT & broadcasting R&D projects (June 2023).
Jeon Young-soo, Director General for the ICT Industry Policy Bureau at the MSIT, emphasized, "Standards are a strategic means for global market leadership and a crucial factor in the commercial success of technology development outcomes." He further stated, "In the rapidly changing competition for international standard dominance, careful planning, including identification of standardization targets, coordination with technology development, securing standard patents, and global cooperation strategies, is crucial. Strategic investment and proactive activities on the international standardization stage are more important than anything else."
This report is scheduled to be published from November 7th via the TTA website (www.tta.or.kr).
[Attachment] Key Contents of Digital Technology Standardization Strategy
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.