National R & D Projects
The current National R&D Projects include. The Highly Advanced National
Project (HAN Project), Strategic National R&D Project, and International
Cooperative Project. The cumulative investmen in these projects amounted
to US $2.66 billion during the period of 1982 - 1995. A Project Based System
(PBS) of management was employed for efficient management of the National
R&D projects.
(Table 3.1) Investment for National R & D Projects (MOST)
| '82~'91
| '92
| '93
| '94
| '95
| Total
|
Government
Industry
| 716.3
489.1
| 162.5
100.0
| 127.8
180.6
| 182.6
179.0
| 250.1
271.6
| 1,439.3
1,220.3
|
| Total
| 1,205.4
| 262.5
| 308.4
| 361.6
| 521.7
| 2,659.6
|
On the other hand, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy sponsors
the Industrial Technology Development and Alternative Energy Technology
Development Projects and the Telecommunication Technology Development
Projects are financed and managed by the Ministry of Information-Communication.
The Ministry of Information-Communication plays the leading role in the construction of
an information super-highway, which will be completed by the early 2000s.
Highly Advanced National (HAN) R & D Projects
In 1992, the Korean government launched the highly advanced national
project, called G - 7, with the aim of turning Korea into one of the top seven
technologically advanced nations. The first phase of the project was completed
in 1994, and its second phase is currently being implemented. The HAN
Project is aimed at obtaining core technologies in the strategic areas where
Korea has the potential capacity to compete with the advanced countries
based on its industrial foundation. Korea is not trying to upgrade its capacity
in every field of industry and technology to the level of the advanced
countries. Rather, it is trying to sustain competitiveness and superiority in
selected fields by concentrating and directing its limited R & D resources.
The HAN Project has two categories of projects. The first category, product technology development projects, is related to specific high-technology
products. The second category, fundamental technology development
projects, includes the projects for the development of core technology
that are considered essential to advancing the economy, society and
welfare of the people. The seventeen main strategic fields of the first and second-phase HAN Project are shown in (Table 3.2).
The HAN Project is a large-scale R&D project based on investments 1
government and industries under a long-term plan, which is inter-mini
in nature. Various R&D organizations such as universities, industries
and government-supported research institutes participate in this project
International cooperation is also being actively pursued.
The Korean government has comprehensively evaluated the results of the
HAN Project accomplished during the 1st - phase R&D Period ('92-94), in
order to decide if the Project would merit further continuance. To briefly
summarize the results of the 1st-phase HAN Project, up to 2,500 patents
were applied for and 550 were granted. Furthermore, 2,100 paper were
presented at conferences and 1,900 papers were published in journals.
In addition, the new projects for the second-phase HAN Project have been
selected in order to support the areas of technology that are cosidered
very important, but have been insufficiently promoted. Consequently, four
projects in product technology development have been selected, including
the development of ASIC technology. Three projects in fundamental
technology development also have been selected, including the development
of advanced superconducting Tokamak.
Highly Advanced National Projects
Unit' US $ Million
| Category
| R&D Projects
| Period
| Target Technologies
| Investment
|
| Product Technology
| 1. New drugs and new agrochemicals
| '92-'97
| To develop 2-3 new antibiotics & germicidal agents
| 246
|
| 2. B-Integrated Service and Digital Network (ISDN)
| '92-2001
| To produce prototype products of 10 giga-ATM
| 856
|
| 3. Next - generation vehicle technology
| '92-'96
| To develop an electric car of 120 km/h speed
| 563
|
| 4. Development of ASIC Technology
| '95-'98
| To develop ASIC design technology for digital HDTV
| 128
|
| 5. Development of advanced technologies for flat panel displays
| '95-2001
| To develop large-size(40"-55"), full color, plasma display panel
| 228
|
| 6. Development for '95-2001 Biomedical Engineering
| '95-2001
| develop biomedical technologies for the diagnosis, rehabilitation, and prevention of diseases
| 217
|
| 7. Development of micromachining technologies and micro-machines
| '95-2001
| To develop micro-machining technologies to make micro-parts or micromachines
| 103
|
| Fundamental Technology
| 8. Next-generation semiconductor
| '93-'97
| To develop basic & coretechnologies for making a superintegrated semiconductor
| 244
|
| 9.Advanced material for information, electronic and energy
| '92-2001
| To develop 30 kinds of new advanced materials
| 240
|
| 10.Advanced manufacturing system
| '92-2001
| To develop FIM, CIM & IMS
| 549
|
| 11. New functional biomaterials
| '92-2001
| To develop process technology of bioactive, new material for commercialization
| 483
|
| 12. Environmental technology
| '92-2001
| To develop core technologies
| 289
|
| 13. New energy technology
| '92-2001
| To develop fuel cell system
| 357
|
| 14. Next-generation nuclear reactor
| '92-2001
| To develop concept and basic design
| 297
|
| 15. Development of Advanced Superconduction Tokamak
| '95-2001
| To develop compact, steady-state-capable, advanced superconduction tokamak
| 188
|
| 16. Development of human sensibility ergonomics technology
| '95-2001
| To develop quantitative measurement and evaluation techniques for umderstanding human response to comfort and subject feeling
| 81
|
| 17. Development of Satellite image Data Processing Technology
| '96-2001
| in the planning stage
| -
|
| Total
| 17 Project
|
|
| 5,069
|
Strategic National R&D Projects
Biotechnology
Recognizing that the coming 21st century will be an era of information and biotechnology, the Korean government took the initiative for the promotion of biotechnology by preparing a strategic plan for national R&D in biotechnology - the "Biotech 2000" program, in December, 1993. According to the national program, Korea plans to invest $2 billion for the period of 1994-1997, of which about 30% is government funded, to build up a scientific and technological foundation for the development of biotechnology. Ten strategic R&D projects were identified in six categories as shown in (Table 3.3).
(Table 3.3) Biotechnology R L D Projects
Category
| R&D Projects
| |
| Biomaterials
| 1. New Functional Biomaterials
2. Industrial Application of Biological Functions
|
| health Care
| 3. Biomedical Engineering
4. Molecular Biological Study of Human Functions
5. Genome Analysis
|
| Agriculture and Foods
| 6. Molecular Breeding & Cell Culture Technology
7. Food-Biotechnology
|
| Environment, Bio-Safety & Bioresources Preservation & Utilization
| 8. Biodiversity and Environmental Protection
9. Evaluation Technology of Environment & BioSafety
|
| Alternative Energy
| 10. Bioenergy Production
|
| Basic Life Sciences
|
|
Computer Software
The size of the Korean software industry is relatively small, and the sortware
technology of Korea lags behind that of advanced countries such as the U.S.A,
Japan, and others. Korea plans to enter the ranks of the advanced countries
in the field of software by the beginning of the 21st century. To achieve
this goal, the Korean government set up the Software Technology
Enhancement Project (STEP), which includes Han-Gul information processing
technology, software engineering technology, and application software
technology. In 1995, the Korean government invested US$8million.
(Table 3.4) Computer Software R & D Projects
Category
R & D Projects
| Han-Gul (Korean Language) Information Processing Technology
| Human-Interface based on Han-Gul
Han-Gul Information Database
Artificial-Intelligence Type Processor
Open Han-Gul Processor
|
| Software Production and Engineering Technology
| Standardization Technology for Development Precedure
Information System Bulid-up Technology
Goal-Oriented Development Technology
Productivity and Quality Management Technology
Software Re-Engineering
|
| Application Software Production Technology
| Computer Based Training Technology
Educational Software Standardization
Computer Graphics
Virtual Peality
Real Time Simulation
Artificial Intelligence
|
| |
Aerospace
Korea launched the scientific satellites [KITSAT I, II] in 1992 and 1993,
and sounding rockets [KSRI I, II] in 1993. Based on the experiences gained in
launching these satellites and sounding rockets, the Korean government
formulated several ambitious programs in the field of space technology. The
two-stage sounding rocket program for observing the upper atmosphere was
initiated in 1993, and the Korea Multipurpose Satellite (KOMPSAT) program,
to be implemented jointly with the Space and Electronics Group of TRW
Inc., was initiated in 1994. KOMPSAT will be launched in 1999. The
KITSAT 3 program was also started in the latter part of 1995 to develop a
more advanced scientific satellite.
The Korean government also started a mid-size airplane (seating capacity of
100 passengers) development program in 1994.
(Table 3.5) Aerospace R & D Projects
Category
R & D Projects
| System Technology
| Medium Size Airplane, Helicopter, Gas Turbine Engine
Multipurpose Satellite, Two-stage Sounding Rocket, KITSAT3
|
| Parts & E1ement Technology
| Materials, Parts, and Key Element
|
| Testing Facility
| Assembly, Integration and Testing Facilities for Satellites
Sub-sonic Wind Tunnel
|
| |
Nuclear Energy
The Korean government, formulated a long-term nuclear R&D program to
enhance technological capability and achieve self-sufficiency in nuclear energy
supply. The areas in which the Korean government is interested are
shown in (Table 3.6).
(Table 3.6) Nuclear R & D Projects
Category
R & D Projects
Nuclear Reactor Technology
Nuclear Fuel Cycle Technology
| Development of a next generation reactor
Development of advanced high burn-up fuel for PWR
|
| Radioactive Waste Management
| Design and operation of permanent disposal facilities, and disposal technology development for low level waste and interim storage of spent fuels
|
| Nuclear Safety
| Establishment of safety assessment technology for existing reactors an for accident prevention and mitigation
|
| Radiation and RI Applications
| Development of high level RI sources an applications, establishment of useful RI recovery and application technology
|
| Nuclear Power Plant Construction Technology
| Achievement of self-reliance in NPP construction
|
| |
Ocean
The Korean government is very interested in the development of marine
resources and the protection of the ocean environment. In 1996, an
interministry committee, which the Prime Minister presides over, mapped
out a ocean development plan that calls for investment of about $33 billion
over the next ten years. The projects presented by the committee include
the following.
( i ) the establishment of a maritime management system, ( ii ) the
exploration of resources at sea, (iii) the development of deep seabed
mineral resources and energy. (iv ) the utilization of marine space, ( v )
the protection of the maritime ecosystem from contamination, (vi) an
integrated coastal management system, and (vii) the promotion of
international cooperation through the development of high technology and
safety in maritime development.
