The Ministry of Science and ICT announced on the 17th that it has selected 100 exemplary national research and development (R&D) achievements for 2024. This year, 100 experts evaluated 869 candidate achievements recommended by government ministries and agencies, followed by public verification to select the final 100.
Among them, 12 were selected as the most exemplary achievements. In the field of machinery and materials, the ‘Development of a mass production platform for meta-lenses through the fusion of photolithography and nanoimprint lithography’ by Professor Lee Heon of Korea University and the ‘Development of DNA nanotechnology that can fold or unfold a structure into various shapes like origami’ by Professor Kim Do-nyeon of Seoul National University were selected as the most exemplary achievements.
In the field of life and marine sciences, the ‘Development of an artificial intelligence model to predict the efficiency of next-generation gene-editing prime editors’ by Professor Kim Hyung-beom of Yonsei University College of Medicine and the ‘Clarification of the human Dicer enzyme structure essential for the regulation of cancer-causing genes through RNA interference’ by Professor Roh Seong-hoon of Seoul National University were selected. In the field of energy and environment, the ‘Localization technology for ultra-pure water for semiconductor manufacturing’ by researchers from the Korea Water Resources Corporation and the ‘Game changer in the secondary battery materials market, development and commercialization of anode raw materials’ by researchers from the Korea Basic Science Institute were selected.
In the field of information and electronics, the ‘Development of an embedded logic controller for electronic skin capable of finger motion recognition’ by Professor Park Sung-joon of Ajou University and the ‘Domestic first development/operationalization of a capability enhancement system for ballistic missile response and U.S.-Korea joint operational control’ by researchers from the Defense Research Institute were selected. In the convergence field, ‘Development of a nano-magnetic bubble that can accurately detect the stiffness of biological tissues using ultrasound’ by Director General Cheon Jin-woo of the Basic Science Institute and the ‘World's first DNA + drone platform based on 5G for real-time disaster response and precision search’ by researchers from the Korea Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute were selected.
Finally, in the field of pure basic science and infrastructure, the ‘Foundation of a new concept quantum computer, development of atomic scale qubits’ by researchers from the Basic Science Institute and the ‘Development and delivery of a lunar environmental monitor (LUSEM) for NASA/Artemis/CLPS lunar lander’ by researchers from the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute were selected.
The achievements selected as the top 100 exemplary achievements will receive a certificate and a plaque signed by the Minister of Science and ICT, and may receive additional points in project selection and organizational evaluation according to relevant regulations. Selected researchers will be actively recommended as candidates for national research and development achievement evaluation awards.
Ryu Kwang-jun, head of the Science and Technology Innovation Headquarters of the Ministry of Science and ICT, noted, “The most important national asset in the era of global technological hegemony is the leading research achievements created through constant challenges and innovations in universities, research institutes, and corporations,” adding, “The Ministry of Science and ICT will continue to work with relevant ministries to create an ecosystem where excellent achievements can be continuously generated and spread into industries.”