Fostering Seven Future Technologies, Including SMRs, Nuclear Fusion and Quantum Technology... Government to Draw Up Implementation Strategies by Year-End

Ministry of Science and ICT discusses plans for SEED Projects with the Presidential Office and relevant ministries
Linking R&D investment with demonstration and commercialization... support through budget allocations and regulatory improvements

The government will draw up sector-specific implementation strategies by the end of this year to develop seven advanced technologies, including small modular reactors (SMRs), nuclear fusion and quantum technology, as future growth engines. The plan goes beyond research and development (R&D), linking technology development with demonstration, commercialization and regulatory improvements to turn research outcomes into real-world industrial competitiveness.

The Ministry of Science and ICT said on the 22nd that it had held a meeting, attended by the Presidential Office and relevant ministries, to develop sector-specific implementation strategies for the “Seven SEED Projects.”

A file photo for illustrative purposes. President Lee Jae-myung looks at a model of the Danuri lunar orbiter ahead of a briefing on the “Seven Major SEEDs” for future growth, held at Cheong Wa Dae on Aug. 12. Photo by Yonhap News Agency.

The Seven SEED Projects are a whole-of-government initiative to develop seven fields—SMRs, nuclear fusion, renewable energy, quantum technology, aerospace, advanced biotechnology and advanced supply chains—as future national growth engines. After announcing the direction of the initiative at a briefing chaired by the president in August, the government established an interministerial framework and plans for developing sector-specific implementation strategies at a meeting of science and technology ministers in September.

At this meeting, participants discussed how to define the key missions and performance targets for each of the seven fields and link them with supporting R&D projects and investment plans. They also considered how to coordinate policy measures across ministries, including support for demonstration and commercialization and improvements to regulations and institutions, so that the results of technology development can be used in industry.

The Ministry of Science and ICT plans to work with relevant ministries to develop sector-specific implementation strategies by the end of this year based on the meeting’s outcomes. It also plans to continue monitoring progress and key issues throughout the projects.

Park Ingyu, head of the Ministry of Science and ICT’s Office of Science and Technology Innovation, said, “I ask each ministry to clarify its key goals and work together to deliver tangible results through measures such as prioritizing budget allocations, supporting commercialization and improving regulations.”

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