The Ministry of Science and ICT and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) announced on the 23rd that Professor Baek Min-kyung of Seoul National University has been selected as the final winner of the 2025 APEC Aspire Award. It is the first time a winner has emerged from Korea in 10 years since Professor Guk Jong-sung of Seoul National University won for his 'El Niño Forecasting Model Research' in 2015.
The Aspire Award is given to a young scientist under the age of 40 who has produced innovative research results through international cooperation in the APEC region. The winner is determined by a vote from the 21 member countries of APEC based on the excellence of research results according to academic paper standards, collaboration with scientists in the APEC region, and contributions to a resilient and sustainable environment through inclusive science and technology and innovation.
This year's Aspire Award was themed 'AI-BIO Convergence: AI Based Biotechnology Solving Social Challenges.' With Korea hosting APEC this year, the event aimed to emphasize the role of science and technology in contributing to solving social challenges through the integration of artificial intelligence, particularly in the life sciences sector, and enhancing the socio-economic utility of emerging technologies.
Professor Baek Min-kyung is a globally recognized researcher in the field of protein structure prediction. She is also a key researcher who developed the AI protein structure prediction program RoseTTAFold in collaboration with Professor David Baker of the University of Washington, who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2024. RoseTTAFold was selected as 'the best research of 2021' by Science.
Protein structure prediction is a crucial field that can be utilized throughout the process of understanding diseases and developing new drugs and treatments, but the process of analyzing protein structures through experimentation previously required a minimum of several months to a maximum of several years of effort. Professor Baek's research has revolutionized life science studies and new drug development by quickly and accurately decoding single protein structures using AI. Recently, Professor Baek has been expanding her research scope to include multi-protein structure prediction in collaboration with corporations.
Regarding her Aspire Award win, Professor Baek Min-kyung said, "I chose the field of protein structure prediction because I found research closely related to real life interesting, and it seems to align well with APEC's vision of emphasizing inclusive science and technology. I hope that in the future, there are many opportunities for young researchers from Korea, including myself, to communicate with researchers within the APEC region and experts from various fields."
Minister Bae Gyeong-hun of the Ministry of Science and ICT noted, "I am pleased that excellent young researchers from Korea are receiving the APEC Aspire Award," adding, "In particular, we will support young scientists in the fields of AI and biotechnology, which are key pillars driving changes in our lives and the growth of Korea, so that they can stand on the international stage."
The Aspire Award ceremony will be held on Aug. 13 in Songdo, Incheon. The winner will receive a prize of $25,000 (approximately 33 million won).