“The wage gap between South Korea and the United States in the field of science and technology is eight times. Investments are linked to the market, and if we cannot implement marketing that corresponds to the technology, it will be difficult to improve the treatment of researchers. Emphasizing technology commercialization and creating a platform where we can buy and sell grants technology is also an effort to create such a foundation.”
On the 17th, at the National Science and Technology Research Council (NST) office in Sejong City, Chairman Kim Young-sik introduced the government-funded research institutes (grants) technology commercialization platform 'NS MaP' that NST is preparing. 'NS MaP' stands for 'Needs Supply Matchmaking Platform,' meaning 'a platform that connects the market (corporations) demand with the technology possessed by grants.' Kim noted, “The idea is to create a map for corporations and grants to explore together to reach the common destination of successful technology commercialization.”
NST is an agency under the Ministry of Science and ICT established to support, nurture, and manage government-funded research institutes in the field of science and technology. This year's core task is to reform the technology commercialization system. The aim is to address the issue of 30 trillion won in government research and development (R&D) investments not leading to corporate competitiveness. To achieve this, grants will identify the needs of corporations and develop the required technologies, and reforms in systems and regulations are underway to ensure that these developed technologies can lead to technology transfers or startups.
Chairman Kim emphasized, “No matter how well you create good technology, if marketing fails, everything fails. Technology without a market is meaningless. The proportion of marketing in technology development is about 80%.”
Researchers at grants also agree that they must develop technologies needed and well-sold by corporations. The issue is that researchers may not know what technologies are needed by corporations and how to effectively market the technologies they develop. Chairman Kim stated that the platform being prepared by NST can serve as a bridge between researchers and the market.
He said, “For researchers who have only focused on research, it can feel daunting and unclear how to sell the technologies they have developed,” and added, “NS MaP will inform grants of the optimal path to enter the market and corporations will be provided with access to excellent technologies held by grants, facilitating their growth.”
NST aims to create a platform that consolidates grants technology, similar to the online shopping mall Coupang, connecting it to consumers. The goal is to allow sellers and buyers to freely search for, buy, and sell desired technologies. Connectors such as technology transfer offices (TLOs) and venture capital (VC) will also participate in linking grants and corporations. Chairman Kim stated, “We will create a playground where technology suppliers, demanders, and connecters come together in a human network.”
NST plans to unveil NS MaP by the end of this year, initially focusing on national strategic technologies such as bio, quantum, and AI (artificial intelligence) semiconductors. Chairman Kim said, “We will help grants start their research with an awareness of the endpoint of technology commercialization from the very beginning, and we will resolve issues related to intellectual property rights, technology transfer negotiations, and contract support that individual TLOs will face through NS MaP.”
Chairman Kim stated that he would work to improve treatment and raise morale so young researchers can feel pride. He noted, “The reasons young researchers leave grants include lower treatment and research funding compared to universities or corporations, and a sense of deprivation due to a lack of support systems,” and added, “We will devise ways to enhance research autonomy and job satisfaction and improve compensation and welfare.”
Chairman Kim stated, “While science and technology are the main drivers of change in the era, science and technology personnel are not adequately involved in decision-making processes,” and added, “If science and technology personnel are positioned in crucial national decision-making roles, it will create a virtuous cycle that attracts excellent talents to the field of science and technology.” He also noted, “I will work to elevate NST's status and strengthen its policy planning functions so it can play the role of a control tower for science and technology.”