The Ministry of Science and ICT and the National Research Council of Science and Technology (NST) announced on the 14th that they have newly selected 10 research groups for the Global TOP Strategic Research Group.
The Global TOP Strategic Research Group is a research support project initiated to lower barriers between government-funded research institutes and establish a mission-oriented collaborative system. The goal is to support the creation of world-class significant results through collaboration among industry, academia, and research institutes centered on government-funded research institutes.
The Ministry of Science and ICT and NST gathered a total of 213 experts from various sectors of industry, academia, and research to evaluate the research and development proposals in two stages. A total of 77 proposals were received, and after narrowing them down to 16 projects by April, 10 research groups were finalized following additional consulting.
In the national strategy category, the selected projects include the super-connected expansion-type super quantum computing strategic research group, the climate crisis response carbon dioxide resourceization strategic research group, the extreme environment innovation-type nuclear fusion debater strategic research group, the autonomous growth AI humanoid strategic research group, and the aerospace semiconductor strategic research group.
The super-connected expansion-type super quantum computing strategic research group will be led by the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, with participation from the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), and the Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information (KISTI). The project, which amounts to 75 billion won, plans to implement scalable quantum computing and super quantum computing technologies through the consolidation of connections between quantum computers.
The climate crisis response carbon dioxide resourceization strategic research group will be led by the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, with participation from KIST, the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, and the Korea Energy Technology Institute. The goal is to develop innovation technologies for Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU) based on carbon-free energy.
In the future challenge category, the selected projects include the ultra-sensitive precise cancer gene analysis research group, the next-generation brain glial and nervous system regulation strategic research group, the non-fluoride electrolyte membrane hydrogen fuel cell strategic research group, the extreme environment adaptive secondary battery strategic research group, and the nitrogen resourceization strategic research group.
Minister Yoo Sang-im noted, "Including the strategic research groups selected last year and this year, we will continuously expand the national representative global TOP strategic research groups to secure technological sovereignty across various fields of science and technology, while also continuously pursuing institutional and financial support to ensure that government-funded research institutes can establish themselves as the focal point for mission-oriented collaboration among industry, academia, and research."
Chairman Kim Young-sik of NST said, "Through industry, academia, and research collaboration centered on government-funded research institutes, we will proactively respond to technology hegemony competition, actively support the continuity of research achievements into industry and society, and also strive to create a research environment where researchers can demonstrate autonomy and creativity."