Under the AI Semiconductor Initiative, the government and private sector will pursue nine major technological innovation tasks aimed at establishing South Korea as one of the top three global AI powers and creating a new chapter in the nation’s semiconductor success story. (Image: Pixabay/CCL)
SEOUL, April 25 (Korea Bizwire) – South Korea’s government has finalized its blueprint to establish global leadership in three pivotal areas it deems “game changers” for the future: artificial intelligence semiconductors, advanced biotechnology and quantum technology.
The Presidential Advisory Council on Science & Technology, the nation’s top decision-making body for science and technology issues chaired by the president, convened a plenary session on the afternoon of April 25 presided over by the vice chairman, Lee Woo-il.
During the meeting, held at the presidential office in Yongsan, initiatives outlining the development vision and strategies for these cutting-edge fields were deliberated and approved.
Emphasizing the intensifying race among nations to gain supremacy in these core strategic technologies, the council stressed that the private and public sectors would collaborate through these initiatives to propel South Korea into the global top three by 2030.
In addition to the AI Semiconductor Initiative unveiled during a semiconductor policy meeting chaired by President Yoon Suk Yeol on April 9, the council also approved the Advanced Biotech Initiative and the Quantum Initiative.
Under the AI Semiconductor Initiative, the government and private sector will pursue nine major technological innovation tasks aimed at establishing South Korea as one of the top three global AI powers and creating a new chapter in the nation’s semiconductor success story.
To secure a leading position in core AI technologies vital for AI supremacy, efforts will focus on developing next-generation artificial general intelligence (AGI) and other vital AI technologies, acquiring energy-efficient and low-power AI capabilities, and ensuring “AI safety” through explainable and trustworthy AI, AI cybersecurity, and deep fake detection technologies.
The plan envisions enabling AI to be freely utilized across all devices by advancing low-power AI technologies that maintain performance while consuming less energy.
To achieve a significant lead in AI semiconductors, the initiative calls for the development of processing-in-memory (PIM) technology that integrates AI computing capabilities into memory chips, the creation of a low-power “K-AP” — a Korean AI processor, and the advancement of novel devices and cutting-edge packaging technologies.
The Advanced Biotech Initiative, aiming for South Korea to become a leading biotech nation by 2035, focuses on strengthening new service platforms and the bio value chain through the convergence of innovative base technologies and data.
Digital biotechnology will be nurtured as a key field, while the petrochemical-based materials industry will transition to bio-based solutions, with efforts also directed toward establishing bio-foundries.
The Quantum Initiative sets the ambitious target of elevating South Korea’s quantum science and technology capabilities from the current 65% of the leading United States’ level to over 80% by 2030.
The initiative outlines nine key technologies across three axes: catching up with core technologies, attaining world-leading technologies, and pioneering new markets. It will provide concentrated support in these areas.
To this end, the quantum science and technology budget for next year will be more than doubled compared to this year, and the strategic focus of research and development efforts will be enhanced.
Plans include establishing an open quantum research hub, supporting joint research with overseas universities, building infrastructure, and strengthening governance through bodies like the Quantum Strategy Committee.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
