S. Korea Seeks More R&D Cooperation with Foreign Firms Here | Be Korea-savvy

S. Korea Seeks More R&D Cooperation with Foreign Firms Here


(image: Korea Bizwire)

(image: Korea Bizwire)

SEOUL/SEJONG, Oct. 7 (Korea Bizwire)South Korea is seeking closer research and development (R&D) cooperation with foreign firms operating in the country to better meet the rapid pace of technological changes across the world, the government said Wednesday.

In a gathering of officials from foreign firms in Seoul, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said that tie-ups have become important as technologies converge and so-called open innovation created by companies and research laboratories working together gain traction.

Multinational companies such as 3M, Siemens and Solvay, which have affiliates in Asia’s fourth-largest economy, have a track record of engaging in cooperative R&D projects with their local counterparts, it said.

It also said local branches of Friedrich-Alexander University, Utah University, Ghent University and State University of New York Korea have expressed interest in joint R&D projects.

The ministry said foreign companies and institutes pointed out that lingering language and cultural barriers still barred entry, while the unique nature of joint R&D required some improvements in administrative and regulatory matters.

As part of the government’s efforts to facilitate greater cooperation, it will release all regulations governing R&D guidelines in English on a dedicated website and start accepting English language proposals and evaluations in order to reduce paperwork time, the ministry said.

A special help desk will be created to listen to suggestions made by foreign companies and R&D centers, it added.

“Such measures can make it easier for foreign companies to work more closely with their local counterparts and can contribute to growth in technology and innovation,” the ministry said.

(Yonhap)

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