The Ministry of Science and ICT stated that Minister Yoo Sang-im invited eight scientists and technology contributors for a meeting on the 18th at a restaurant in Jung-gu, Seoul. The meeting was attended by eight individuals, including Min Gye-sik, former chairman of Hyundai Heavy Industries; Kim Myung-ja, chairperson of Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST); Lee Chung-goo, former president of Hyundai Motor Company; and Cho Wan-kyu, former president of Seoul National University. The Ministry of Science and ICT has designated a total of 91 science and technology contributors from 2017 to the present.
Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) announced that it held the final round event of the 2024 Climate Tech nationwide audition on the 17th at the Fusion Hall of the KI Building, selecting the final eight teams. This event was held to discover ideas and technologies that can overcome the climate crisis and lead the carbon-neutral era. In the general league, An Bin, a student at KAIST, was awarded, while Eco Capital Co., Ltd. was selected in the startup league. The winners in the general league received a business startup support fund of 20 million won, while the startup league winner received a commercialization support fund of 35 million won.
The Wind Energy Core Technology Research Center of the Korea Institute of Materials Science announced on the 17th that it held a completion ceremony for the 'Wind Energy Material and Component Testing Facility' at the renewable energy complex in Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do. Established in 2006, the Korea Institute of Materials Science's wind energy core technology center plays a central role in the development of core components and support for corporations. The Buan wind testing facility is the only internationally certified testing facility for wind blade completion authentication tests in the country. With the completion of this testing facility, the Korea Institute of Materials Science plans to support the development and certification tests of materials and components essential for the development of super-large wind blades of 10 megawatts or more.
The Science and Technology Policy Institute (STEPI) held its 461st science and technology policy forum on the theme of 'Strategies for Promoting International Joint Research through Horizon Europe' on the 18th at the Le Meridien Seoul Myeongdong Mid-Century Room. This forum was organized in light of the resolution of South Korea's negotiations for membership as an associate member in Horizon Europe. STEPI Research Fellow Lee Myung-hwa, Senior Research Fellow Song Chi-woong, and Chief Researcher Kim Hyung-ha from the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science discussed ways to maximize the benefits of joining Horizon Europe.
Kim Young-sik, chairperson of the National Research Council of Science and Technology, is conducting meetings at research sites, starting with the Korea Energy Technology Research Institute and the Korea Bioinformation Center on the 17th, followed by the Korea Institute of Fusion Energy, the National Security Technology Research Institute on the 18th, the Korea Basic Science Institute on the 20th, and the Korea Institute of Construction Technology on the 26th, to gather insights on the current state of research and development (R&D) and issues in research fields. Kim emphasized the importance of robust R&D, stating, 'NST will actively support to ensure R&D can continue unwaveringly in the research field.'