The government and the National Assembly are pushing to insert a clause into the National Research Data Act to keep research data from corporations participating in national research and development (R&D) projects confidential for up to 20 years. The bill currently submitted to the National Assembly lacks a clause on keeping corporate research data confidential, drawing concerns that key corporate secrets could be leaked.
The Legislation and Judiciary Subcommittee of the Science. ICT. Broadcasting. and Communications Committee will hold a public hearing at 2 p.m. on the 14th to hear opinions from industry and experts on the enactment bill for the National Research Data Act (Act on the Promotion of Management and Utilization of National Research Data). After the hearing, the plan is to pass the national data act reflecting the "20-year non-disclosure of corporate research outcomes" clause in the subcommittee.
The National Research Data Act is intended to establish a legal basis to systematically accumulate research data created through national R&D projects and enable sharing among researchers. With lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties jointly introducing the bill, discussions are underway in the Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee's subcommittee. Both sides agree on the direction of sharing and enhancing the use of research achievements funded by public money.
However, business circles expressed concern that key corporate secrets could be leaked. The six major economic organizations—the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, The Federation of Korean Industries, Korea Enterprises Federation, Korea International Trade Association, Korea Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises, and Federation of Middle Market Enterprises of Korea (FOMEK)—said in a proposal sent to the government and the National Assembly that "if data from national research and development projects conducted by corporations are disclosed, there is a possibility of overseas leakage of core technologies and infringement of business opportunities," adding, "This could act as a factor discouraging corporations from participating in national research and development projects and, in the long term, affect the country's industrial competitiveness." The National Research Data Act requires disclosure of research data if the government's support accounts for 50% or more of national R&D projects conducted by corporations, and they argued that exceptions are needed.
Afterward, the competent ministries—the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources—and economic groups held consultations and proposed easing the burden on corporations by allowing non-disclosure for up to 20 years when there are grounds such as management or business secrets. Park In-gyu, head of the Science and Technology Innovation Center at the Ministry of Science and ICT, said, "We held consultations in February and March regarding opposing views from industry, and we understand that corporations accepted the idea of allowing non-disclosure for up to about 20 years."
Both parties accepted this compromise at the Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee's subcommittee meeting on the 9th.