International Cooperation in Science and Technology

Policy Direction

The world environment surrounding science and technology has been changing very rapidly with the emergence of a new world economic order. The emerging new order is based on the benefits of competition and cooperation. Thus, international cooperation has become an even more important policy area.

Recognizing the importance of international cooperation in science and technology, the. Korean government pursues the globalization of scientific and technological activities to reap the maximum benefits that international cooperation offers.

First, to accelerate the globalization of Korea's scientific and technological activities, the government will revise its laws, institutions, and practices in accordance with the internatoinal norms and standards. A broad range of laws, administrative frameworks and customs will be reviewed and revised to facilitate international cooperation. National R&D projects will be opened to foreign scientists and engineers and Korean R&D institutes will expand opportunities for the employment of foreigners.

Second, scientific and technological cooperation will be based on mutual benefit and complementarity. Korea is ready to contribute to the the betterment of human society through scientific and technological development.

Third, in the spirit mentioned above, the Korean government will expand cooperation with all of the countries and international bodies by expanding scientific and technical cooperation agreements. Under these umbrellas, activities such as the establishment of joint research centers abroad; direct and joint investment; joint research, training, seminars and workshops; and the exchange of researchers and information will be carried out extensively. To facilitate scientific exchanges, regional cooperation centers will be established, starting with the Science Cooperation Center in the U.S. that will open in 1996. Furthermore, the Second APEC (Asia -Pacific Economic Cooperation) Science Ministers' Conference will be held in Seoul in November, 1996. Korea will play a leading role in being a bridge between the developing and developed countries in the improvement of science and technology cooperation, which will allow Korea to contribute to a well- balanced and sustainable development of the APEC region through the advancement of science and technology.

International Programs

The Korean government has established formal cooperative relationships in science and technology with foreign countries in the forms of agreements and other arrangements. (See Table 8.1)

Such arrangements facilitate the exchange of scientists and engineers, exchange of information, joint research, and other cooperative activities.

Scientific, Technical and Related Ageements (As of Nov.'95)

Type of Agreements Countries (Date of Effectuation)
Scientific and
Technical Agreements
(36 Countries)
  • Asia, the Pacific & Africa (12)
    Japan (Dec. '85), India (Aug. '76), Pakistan (Jan. '86),
    Philippines (Aug. '86), Papua New Guinea (Nov. '83),
    Thailand (Aug.'85), Malaysia (Nov. '86), China (Oct.'92), Sri Lanka
    (Jun. '94), Tunisia (Dec. '94), Vietnam (May. '95), Bangladesh(Jun.'95)
  • The Americas (9)
    Colombia (Feb. '82), Paraguay (Dec. '77),
    Dominican Rep. (Nov. '82), Costa Rica (Sep. '82), Canada (Apr. '71)
    Brazil (Dec. '92), U. S. A. (Jul.'93), Mexico (Sep. '91), Venezuela
    (Aug. '94)
  • Europe(15)
    France (Dec. '81), Germany (Sep. '86), Italy (Feb. '84),
    U.K.(Jun. '85), Spain (Mar. '76), Hellenic Rep. (May. '94), Finland
    ( Jul. '89), Russian Fed. (Dec.'91), Sweden ( Jan. '85),
    Ukraine (May. '94), Uzbekistan (Nov. '92), Hungary ( Jul. '89),
    Czech (Apr. '95), Poland (Oct. '94), Slovenia (Apr. '95)
    • Economic & Technical
    Agreements
    (32 Countries)
  • Asia & the Pacific (4)
    Philippines (Jun. '85), Maldives (Sep. '85), Vietnam (Mar. '93),
    Bangladesh (Jun.'95)
  • Africa(7)
    Djibouti (Feb. '79), Liberia (Sep, '82), Senegal (Sep. '81),
    Cote D'Ivoire (Aug. '86), Central Africa (Feb '74), Ethiopia (Dec. '92),
    Cape Verde (Jun.'92),
  • Middle East (6)
    Jordan (Dec. '77), Afghanistan (Feb '78), Saudi Arabia (Jan. '75),
    Morocco (May. '76), Iran (Jul. '75), Israel (Mar. '95)
  • The Americas (9)
    Barbados (Sep. '81), Chile (Dec. '83), Jamaica (Jul. '82),
    Ecuador (Dec '83), Guyana (Jul. '73), Suriname (Aug. '82),
    Belize (Sep. '87), Bolivia (Nov.'86), Trinidad and Tobago (Oct.'87)
  • Europe (6),
    Finland (Feb '80), Netherland (Aug. '83), Portugal (Jan.'85),
    Germany (Dec. '61), Norway (Oct. '82), Russia (Mar. '95)
    • Economic and
    Scientific & Technical
    Agreements
    (16 Countries)
  • Asia & the Pacific (1)
    Mongolian Rep. (Apr.'91)
  • Africa(8)
    Gabon(Nov.'80), Nigeria(Aug,'82), Zaire(Apr.'83), Gambia(Feb.'85)
    Guniea Bissau(Apr.'89), Sao Tome & Principe(Nov.'91),
    Benin(Jun.'92), Namibia(Aug.'95)
  • Europe (3)
    Bulgaria(Nov.'90), Ireland(Apr.'94), Romania(Dec.'90)
  • The Americas (4)
    Peru(Tul.'84), Haiti(Mar.'85) Uruguay(Nov.'87), Mexico(Aug.'90)
    • Trade & Economic
    Technical Agreements
    (19 Countries)
  • Asia & the Pacific (6)
    Bangladesh(Jul.'73), Pakistan(Jan.'86), India(Aug.'74)
    Indonesia(Aug.'71), New Zealand(Apr.'76), Australia(Jun.'75)
  • Africa(6)
    Kenya(Mar.'78), Leaotho(Feb.'89), Sierra Leone(Jun.'81), Cameroon(Nov.'77), Sudan(Jun.'78), Tunisia(May.'70)
  • Middle East (5)
    Irq(Jul.'83), Kuwait(Feb.'84), Qatar(Jun.'84), Bahrain(May.'84), Ghana(Jul.'90)
  • Europe (2)
    Hungaty(Feb.'89), Turkey(Dec.'77)
    • Atomic Agreements
    (11 Countries)
  • The Americas (2)
    U.S.A.(Jul.'74), Canada(Jun.'76)
  • Europe (6)
    Belgium(Mar.'81), France(Apr.'81), Germany(Apr.'86)
    Spain(Dec.'76), Russian Fed.(Dec.'91), U.K.(Nov.'91)
  • Asia & the Pacific (3)
    Japan(May.'95), Australia(May.'79), China(Feb.'95)

    • International Collaborative Research

    The Korean government has been supporting international collaborative projects since 1985. During the past eleven years, MOST supported 750 collaborative research projects with an investment of US $55 million.

    (Table 8.2) International Collaborative Research Projects By Year

    Unit: Number, US $ Million

    		'85 '86 ' '87 '88 '89 '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 '95 Total
    Project 39 49 69 66 55 76 57 72 71 71 125 750
    Budget 1.8 2.7 3.4 4.0 3.8 7.0 6.8 6.4 5.5 5.5 8.1 55.0

    (Table 8.3) International Collaborative Research Projects By Country

    Unit: Number, US $ Million

    		France Germany Japan Russia U.K. U.S. Others Total
    Project 59 90 203 100 34 130 134 750
    Budget 7.5 11.9 9.1 8.3 2.6 7.3 8.3 55.0

    As of 1996, a total of 125 international collaborative research projects are under way including: nine with Germany in machinery, new materials, and Bio-technology etc.; twenty-three with Japan in information technology, machinery, new materials and ocean etc.; and fifteen with the U.S. in information technology, machinery, bio-technology, meteorology, and new materials.

    Technology Imports & Exprots

    Technology imports in Korea began with the enactment of the Foreign Capital Inducement Law in 1962. Foreign technologies played a vital role in the industrialization process of the 1960's and 1970's. Since 1962, 9,526 cases of technologies have been imported, for which Korea paid US $11,130 million as royalty.

    (Table 8.4) Technology Improts('62~'95)

    Unit : Number, US $ Million

    		U.S.A. Japan Germany France U.K. Othars Total
    Cases 2,682 4,568 540 379 368 989 9,526
    Royalty
    Payment     		5,441 3,621 479 378 229 982 11,130

    On the other hand. Korea's technology export during the period of 1987 to 1995 remained at a total of 661 cases : 202 to China ; sixty-six to Indonsia ; fifty-two to India ; thirty-three to Malaysia ; twenty-four to Saudi Arabia ; seventy-four to the philippines ; four to the Canada ; eleven to the U.S.A. nineteen to the Japan ; and 176 to other countries. The major technologies exported include oil refinery & chemical technology, electric & electronic technology, mechanic technology ceramics, and drugs. The royalty receipts from technology exports amounted to US $483 million during the same period.

    (Ttale 8.5) Technology Exports('73~'95)

    Unit:Number, US$ Thousand

    		Saudi Arabia Indonesia Canada U.S.A. Malaysia Japan China Others Total
    Cases 24 66 4 11 33 19 202 302 661
    Receipt 95,353 44,859 48,809 14,747 23,770 17,178 44,591 36,414 483,222

    Technical Assistance

  • Invitation of Trainees
    Since 1963, the Korean government has provided foreign trainees and participants with course on industrial developmet in Korea. This program covers science and technology policy, R & D management, oceanographic research, food processing, CAD/CAM, CND & CBT, environmental protection technology and management courses, etc. The total number of invitees reached 5,817 in 1994.

    (Table 8.6) Training Invitations by Year & Source

    Unit: Person

    		'63~'87 '89 '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 Total
    Government
    UN
    Others     		2,933
    1,624
    2,294     		432
    69
    		444
    87
    		372
    93
    		461
    73
    		459
    32
    		716
    30
    		5,817
    2,008
    2,294
    Total 6,851 501 531 465 534 491 746 10,119

  • Consulting Services

    • The Korean government also has been sending experts to developing countries since 1967 for consulting services.

    (Table 8.7) Korean Experts' Services

    Unit: Person

    		'63-'87 '88 '89 '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 Total
    Number of
    Experts     		310 49 66 48 39 47 61 74 694

  • Post-Doctoral Fellowship Program

    • The Korean government started the Post-Doctoral Fellowship Program in 1994 to provide opportunities for young promising researchers of developing countries. Expenses such as round-trip air tickets, living allowances, and medical insurance are provided by the Korean government.

    The program covers basic science and engineering, and forty-five fellowships were granted to foreign scientists for research at laboratories and universities throughout Korea in 1995.

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