■The Ministry of Science and ICT announced on the 2nd that it held the launch ceremony for the 'Advanced Innovation Equipment Alliance' at the Westin Chosun in Seoul. The Advanced Innovation Equipment Alliance is a committee established to create and support a domestic ecosystem for advanced research equipment necessary for leading future strategic technologies, comprising about 90 experts from industry, academia, and research institutes, including equipment demanders and suppliers. The alliance is organized into a general committee and three technical subcommittees focusing on 'semiconductors and displays', 'secondary batteries', and 'advanced bio', along with a subcommittee for the 'research equipment ecosystem'. It plans to prioritize support for the three major technology fields where analysis and measurement equipment is heavily utilized and aims to expand the technical subcommittees in the future.
■The European Union (EU) has decided to expand the application of the Digital Product Passport (DPP) starting with batteries in 2027. In this context, the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology (KITECH) is hosting the 'Korea-EU Eco-Design Forum' in collaboration with the Korea-EU Green Partnership Project Team to discuss cooperation with Europe in preparation for the mandatory implementation of the Digital Product Passport. The forum is taking place from the 2nd to the 3rd at the COEX Magok Exhibition Center, with over 300 policymakers and practitioners from Korea and Europe expected to attend. Following the policy session on the 2nd, there will be an industrial session focused on three sectors: batteries, electronics, and textiles, on the 3rd.
■The Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST) announced on the 2nd that Jyri Järviaho, the Finnish ambassador to Korea, visited the campus. This meeting was arranged to discuss ways to expand exchanges and practical cooperation in the fields of science, technology, and higher education. During the visit, Ambassador Jyri Järviaho discussed various cooperation options, including collaboration with major Finnish universities and research institutes, student and researcher exchanges, and joint research and development, through meetings with key officials, and toured research facilities to enhance understanding of DGIST's educational and research infrastructure.
■The Southeast Nuclear Medicine Center has been selected as a target institution for the 'Comprehensive Second General Hospital Support Project' by the Ministry of Health and Welfare. This project aims to strengthen the medical capabilities of general hospitals responsible for essential medical services in the region and to support the functionality of hospitals so that local residents can access essential medical services in a timely manner. The Southeast Nuclear Medicine Center plans to further enhance its 24-hour emergency care system. It intends to establish a tight cooperation system between advanced general hospitals and local clinics to ensure that patients receive prompt and accurate treatment at appropriate institutions according to the characteristics of their conditions.