Gov’t announces initiative to nurture advanced tech in seven key sectors

The government on Wednesday announced key projects to nurture advanced technologies in seven sectors, including renewable energy and space science, as part of broader efforts to seek new growth engines.

The projects are part of the "strategic emerging engines for disruptive innovation," or "SEED," initiative announced during a policy briefing at the Blue House by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources.

The SEED initiative aims to secure new growth engines for Korea by focusing on three areas: renewable energy, frontier technologies and an advanced supply chain ecosystem, the government said.

In the renewable energy area, the government plans to commercialize water-cooled small modular reactors (SMR) by 2035, while beginning construction of nonwater-cooled SMRs around 2030.

In particular, for advanced modular reactors, the government plans to establish a special purpose company in cooperation with the private sector to oversee the project from the development stage.

Korea also seeks to build a locally developed nuclear fusion reactor by 2035 through a partnership with the private sector, the Science Ministry said.

Nuclear fusion technology is widely considered a safe and potentially limitless energy source because it mimics the natural process that powers the sun and stars.

Projects in frontier technologies will focus on quantum computing, space science and advanced biotechnology, the Science Ministry said.

Among them is a project to develop a locally made 100-qubit quantum computer by 2029, along with plans to foster the country's quantum chip manufacturing capabilities with the goal of becoming a global leader within the next 10 years.

In space science, Korea aims to become a global player by completing the development of a low-Earth-orbit satellite communications network by 2035.

In biotechnology, the government plans to establish AI-based bio infrastructure by 2030, including AI models designed to predict changes in cancer cells.

The government will also seek to develop core technologies for brain-computer interfaces with the goal of producing a commercial product using the technology by 2035, the Science Ministry said.

The project also includes efforts to establish supply chains for critical minerals and equipment needed to support such projects.

The government plans to increase the recycling rate of 10 key minerals to up to 20 percent by 2030, while investing 10 trillion won ($7.1 billion) over the next five years in research and development of key equipment, the Trade Ministry added.

"We plan to provide the future generation with new opportunities to challenge, and complete an 'irreplaceable Korea' that no one can rival," the government said in a release.

Yonhap