The government will invest 2 trillion won in research and development projects to address various social issues such as aging, fine dust, and disasters. This is part of a large-scale, whole-government research and development plan aimed at supporting innovative technology development and its application in the field.
The Ministry of Science and ICT noted on the 1st that it has reviewed and confirmed this year's implementation plan containing whole-government research and development projects for solving social problems. The Ministry of Science and ICT and related departments will invest 1.9459 trillion won, a 31% increase from the previous year, to implement the three major strategies and ten initiatives of the 3rd Comprehensive Plan on Science and Technology-Based Solutions to Social Problems.
This year's three major strategies to solve social problems include planning a whole-government flagship project for field application using artificial intelligence (AI) and big data, promoting demand-customized research and development projects that enhance problem-solving capabilities centered on each department's unique missions, and strengthening public-private collaboration to enhance government research and development outcomes using private investments.
The government is gradually advancing project planning for five key areas of social problems presented in 2023. Following the issues of cybercrime and aging in 2023, and household waste and microplastics in 2024, this year, it plans to select issues related to fine dust and plan whole-government projects considering the roles of various departments.
Guidelines will also be established to continuously expand the proportion of research and development budgets for field application by analyzing the current status and priorities of each department's research and development budgets.
New mission-oriented problem-solving research and development projects with a total scale of 245 billion won will be promoted mainly by 15 departments, including the Fire Agency (disasters) and the Ministry of Health and Welfare (health), and demand-supply customized research and development, in which citizens and local governments participate directly, will continue.
Field consulting will also be conducted to alleviate the challenges related to commercialization for research institutions and corporations, including institutional issues and overseas market entry.
It will also enhance the commercialization capabilities of private sectors researching solutions to social problems by establishing public foundations such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Asan Nanum Foundation for technology commercialization, technology and product certification, overseas market entry, and public procurement.
Kang Sang-wook, head of the Science and Technology Policy Bureau, said, “In the future, we will ensure that disaster prevention technologies for wildfires, earthquakes, and the like are developed and rapidly applied in the field to contribute to a safer society.” He added, “Through close cooperation with related departments, we will ensure that the initiatives outlined in the '25 implementation plan established this time will proceed without any setbacks.”