By implementing 9 strategic goals and 30 execution tasks for building Science Technology-oriented Advanced Korea, The Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) is envisioning Korea in tenth place in science competitiveness and fifth place in technology competitiveness by 2010, according to its staple affairs plan in 2007.
Notably in 2007, the Ministry plans to place emphasis on constructing the groundwork for stable science technology innovation in the middle and long term on the one hand while accomplishing staple policy goal the participatory government presented when it launched on the other hand.
Since its beginning, the participatory government has been driving forward Science Technologycentered Society Construction as a main national administration task and thanks to such effort, Korea's science technology competitiveness has risen greatly over the past four years.
Korea's science competitiveness has risen from the 16th position globally in 2003 to the 12th position in the world last year and technology competitiveness also has climbed from the 27th position globally in 2003 to the 6th position in the world last year, according to IMD survey, Switzerland.
What is noteworthy is that MOST backs Vision 2030 Actualization through science technology innovation.
Officials involved in MOST's Vision 2030 said: "The Ministry will propel the future's growth engine security policy continuously so that innovation initiative-model economic growth strategy, the core element of Vision 2030, can make its way into a full-scale orbit plus accelerating 3 growth engine project's outcome creation such as next-generation growth engine project, largesized national R&D commercial project, and 21st century frontier R&D project to secure middle and longterm growth engine."
MOST further won't spare any efforts in expanding institutional groundwork so that science technology- based service industry such as R&D service business and engineering service business can develop as a new growth industry, they said.
In step with the government's R&D investment 10 trillion won (US$10.7 billion) era, MOST officials explained: "MOST will drive forward strategic R&D investment, based on national R&D project Total Roadmap, in earnest so that the governmnt R&D investment amounting to roughly 10 trillion won can contribute to boosting national competitiveness and enhancing the quality of life for the nation."
Accordingly, R&D investment's efficiency will be boosted continuously as a pre feasibility study about new national R&D project whose total project expenses are over 50 billion won (US$53.3 million) is introduced.
Regarding promising technology field's source technology development like biotechnology, nanotechnology and convergence technology, MOST plans to propel technology development of field whose possibility to secure high value-added source technology is high, intensively in the case of biotechnology.
In the case of the nanotechnology field, MOST will place emphasis on developing the core source technology whose ripple effect is big and whose competitiveness strengthening is pivotal such as nano-mechatronics. In the event of convergence technology, preferential support will be given from convergence technology field whose technological and economic ripple effect is big.
Last but not least, MOST officials said that the Ministry will implement space center construction without any setback with the view of penetrating into the 9th satellite shooting country in 2008 for the Republic of Korea.
By embarking on developing nuclear convergence energy's source technology in earnest, securing our groundwork too as the future energy sovereign state must not neglected, they point out.
