Pursuing Active Mutual Exchange and Cooperation between Research Institutions Daedeok Science Town is a typical Korean R&D project that operates on the abiding principal that research institutions should make the effort to create synergies through mutual exchange and cooperation, said Cho Young-Hwa, chairman of Daedeok Science Town Association.

Cho Young-Hwa, chairman of Daedeok Science Town Association

On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Daedeok Science Town, the DSTA (Daedeok Science Town Association) is stepping up its efforts to activate mutual exchange and cooperation between research institutions. Of particular note, in order to transform the Expo Government Hall into the Science Town PR Hall, it has made an agreement with the National Science Museum and Expo Park at the end of 2004. The Association is now preparing to open the Science Town PR Hall in 2006. In addition, it plans to open an Easy Science Classroom this year in an effort to familiarize the general public with science, that is, the children, students, and parents of the community. The Korea IT Times recently held an interview with Cho Young-Hwa, chairman of the DSTA, who is concurrently the president of KISTI (Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information), to discover the aims and focus of DSTA and its current activities. The DSTA, which is composed of the chiefs of research institutions in the Daedeok Science Valley, meets on a regular basis. Established nearly 30 years ago in 1976, it has a history that runs in parallel with the Daedeok Science Valley. The purpose of the Association is to build relationships among member research institutions and to contribute to the advancement of Daedeok Science Valley. Its major functions include information sharing and operating a support system to stimulate research projects by member organizations. It also generates new research ideas and policies and puts them forward for the purpose of the continued development of the Science Valley. The DSTA s business plan for 2005 focuses on enhancing the research capacity of the Daedeok Science Valley, a capacity that has gradually been augmented over the past 30 years in an effort to commercialize research results, and create productive, symbiotic cooperation among member institutions, so that these efforts may result in the development of a world-class research center. The basic policy direction of the business plan for 2005 runs as follows: First, it seeks to activate mutual exchange and cooperation among research institutions within the Daedeok Science Valley by the following means. * It promotes information exchange by means of technology transfer, plus holding forums and a techno mart. * It establishes an information exchange system among the educational organizations, research institutions, and enterprises. * It develops and operates an integrated portal site for academic activities. Secondly, it aims to contribute to the Daedeok Science Valley and the advancement of national scientific and technological innovation through promoting and championing certain policies related to science and technology. * It continues to develop and suggest science and technology policies so that it may play an important role in the direction such policy will take at a national level. * It seeks to enhance the research capability of the Daedeok Science Valley, improve the commercialization of research results, lay the foundation for joint research projects, and discover measures to boost international exchange of information in specialized fields. Thirdly, it aims to develop an R&D infrastructure. * It strives to develop a world-class research infrastructure by establishing a high-tech network and e-Science environment. * It puts emphasis on generating joint research projects and supporting them. * It expands the number of institutions participating in the high-tech network. Fourthly, by applying accumulated technologies and know-how to the frontline business organizations in the community, it intends to enhance national competitiveness. Fifthly, it seeks to raise the morale and welfare of the researchers and personnel working in the Daedeok Science Valley. Sixthly, it has the goal of familiarizing the general public with the Science Valley by adopting a new brand and by the intro- duction of an open house. Meanwhile, DSTA has formed a business agreement with the National Science Museum and Expo Park to transform the existing Expo Government Hall into the Daedeok Science Town PR Hall at the end of 2004, and is now doing the necessary remodeling. The PR Hall is scheduled to open in September 2006 on the occasion of 33rd anniversary of Daedeok Science Valley. All the member research institutions are welcoming the inauguration of the PR Hall, because it will provide a good opportunity to publicize their research achievements. In addition to this project, DSTA is introducing the Easy Science Classroom to familiarize the general public including children, students, and parents of the community with science and technology with. In detail, it includes an experience science program, an easy science lecture program, laboratory visits, and movies about science. This project is designed to tear down the walls between the public at large and the Daedeok Science Valley, while increasing popular understanding and concern about science and technology. Cho Young-Hwa, chairman of DSTA is concurrently the president of KISTI (Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information). The Korea IT Times asked him to describe the Institute and its mandate for out readers. He said, KISTI aims to establish a nationwide science and technology information infrastructure so that everyone, at home or abroad, may obtain all kinds of information on science and technology. The functions of KISTI, he explained, are as follows: First, KISTI provides all kinds of information on science and industrial technology. This information includes not only all kinds of printed materials such as doctoral and master s dissertations, journals, and proceedings, but also information on experimental databases. In addition, it provides in-depth analyses and high value added information and services. Secondly, by performing the role of supercomputer, KISTI gives a helping hand to the advance of basic science, industrial design, and high-tech R&D. Thirdly, it is developing a new research environment by introducing grid technology and IPv6 (IP version 6, a next-generation Internet address system) to help researchers at home and abroad. Fourthly, to boost developments in biotechnology, it has established a Bioinformatics Center, based upon the fusion of IT and BT. Finally, it has established a nano information analysis room. Nano technology has been described as a technology with no limits or a new industrial revolution in the making.