The Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM) is working on consolidating small government projects, ranging from 100 million to 900 million won, into larger budgets through block funding to secure cutting-edge technology in the semiconductor and display industries. On the other hand, the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT) has decided to operate a dedicated policy and administrative support organization for collaboration between research institutes and companies like LG Energy Solution, SK On, and Samsung SDI.
Yoo Sang-im, Minister of Science and ICT, visited KIMM and KRICT to hold a ‘Major Policy Issues Meeting’ and listen to strategies and opinions from the research field to develop these institutes into national hubs for securing core technologies.
The Ministry had previously outlined the development direction of public research institutions as national R&D institutes with mission-oriented capabilities, following a delay in public institution designation in June last year.
Minister Yoo has been implementing development plans since her appointment, aiming for these institutes to become pivotal in securing strategic technologies amid international tech competition. Initiatives such as reducing the rigidity of budget operations and expanding global top-tier strategic research teams support this goal, enabling the institutes to lead strategic technology development actively.
KIMM plans to lead industrial automation through AI robots, proposing a delayed-payment R&D model whereby companies pay royalties after successful implementation. Furthermore, KIMM introduced strategies to strengthen technological industrialization, such as the K-Partners program for exchanging and collaborating on advanced technologies with companies.
In the semiconductor and display sector, KIMM has also announced a plan to scale up existing small government projects by consolidating them under block funding to develop nano-manufacturing processes and equipment.
KRICT aims to be the focal point in South Korea’s battery industry and will operate a policy and administrative support organization to facilitate collaboration in the secondary battery field with six other research institutes, including KIST, and companies like LG Energy Solution, SK On, and Samsung SDI. KRICT also seeks to enhance carbon neutrality in the chemical industry through CCU technologies and improve response platforms for future infectious diseases by linking various government-commissioned projects.
Minister Yoo emphasized that real change comes from diverse action plans presented from the field and encouraged the suggestion of ways to dismantle internal and external silos by making budgets and organizational operations more flexible.