South Korea and Italy Strengthen Cooperation in AI Semiconductors, Climate, and Bio... Expanding Joint Research

Joint Science and Technology Committee Convened for the First Time in Five Years

Discussions on Future Technology Cooperation Held in Rome

Embodied AI Semiconductors, Climate-Resilient Crops, and the Establishment of a Brain Disease Research Center in Progress

South Korea and Italy are expanding their cooperation in future advanced technologies, focusing on artificial intelligence (AI) semiconductors, climate change, and the bio sector.

The Ministry of Science and ICT announced on the 11th (local time) that it held the 13th Korea-Italy Joint Committee on Science and Technology in Rome, Italy, in collaboration with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI).

The Korea-Italy Joint Committee on Science and Technology is an official intergovernmental consultative body established under the bilateral science and technology cooperation agreement signed in 1984. This meeting marks the first in-person gathering of delegations from both countries in nine years since 2017, and the first meeting since the 12th session was held virtually in 2021 due to the impact of COVID-19, making it the first such session in five years.

Reference photo to aid understanding of the article. Official promotional image of the European Union (EU) research and innovation program, Horizon Europe. Horizon Europe homepage

Over the years, the two countries have pursued joint research based on a three-year science and technology cooperation implementation plan, and have achieved results by participating in 15 joint projects under the European Union (EU) research and innovation program 'Horizon Europe.'

From AI Semiconductors to Brain Disease Research

During this session, discussions focused on ways to expand cooperation in three key sectors: AI, climate change, and bio.

In the AI sector, the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) of Korea proposed collaboration in embodied AI—a core technology for the future physical AI market—as well as neuromorphic semiconductors and chiplet heterogeneous integration technology. Both countries agreed to expand joint research opportunities, particularly in next-generation AI semiconductors.

In the field of climate change, research achievements were shared regarding genome-based flowering time control technologies and the development of crops to address climate change, which are being pursued by the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology and the University of Padua in Italy. The two sides also discussed follow-up cooperation measures.

In the bio sector, the Korea Brain Research Institute and the University of Bologna in Italy discussed expanding research cooperation to identify the mechanisms of brain disease onset and to develop treatments. Both sides agreed to consider establishing an international joint research center to build a long-term foundation for collaboration.

Additionally, both countries reviewed previous joint research outcomes. In the bio sector, the two sides secured precision analysis technology for natural drug delivery carriers, which are emerging as next-generation bio materials, through research on establishing a plant-derived extracellular vesicle-based biotechnology platform. In the eco-friendly chemistry sector, they are conducting research on sustainable photocatalyst-based synthesis of new drug materials.

Hwang Sunghoon, Director General of International Cooperation at the Ministry of Science and ICT, said, "The joint research experience accumulated by researchers from both countries is expanding into global research cooperation, such as Horizon Europe," and added, "We will actively support the discussions of this joint committee so that they can lead to practical joint research and implementation plans."

The 14th Korea-Italy Joint Committee on Science and Technology is scheduled to be held in Seoul.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.