South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy has announced the advancement of three groundbreaking research projects into the main research phase under the ‘Alchemist Project.’ (Image courtesy of Kobiz Media)
SEJONG, Feb. 15 (Korea Bizwire) – South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy has announced the advancement of three groundbreaking research projects into the main research phase under the ‘Alchemist Project,’ aimed at securing future technologies capable of transforming industrial landscapes over the next decade.
The projects, which were selected after rigorous evaluations, include research on reversing aging through hematopoietic stem cell-based drugs, ultra-realistic metaverse visualization, and biomimetic carbon resource conversion technologies.
The anti-aging project, led by Sungkyunkwan University, aims to develop a drug that generates ‘young blood’ within the body, not only preventing but potentially reversing aging in humans.
Meanwhile, Korea University’s project focuses on matching human visual cells with two-dimensional display pixels to create three-dimensional holographic images, aiming for a breakthrough in metaverse visualization.
The third project, undertaken by the Korea Institute of Energy Technology, seeks to mimic natural photosynthesis to convert industrial CO2 emissions into useful liquid fuels like ethanol, presenting a sustainable solution to carbon resource utilization.
Each project will receive approximately 20 billion won in funding over a five-year period, reflecting the government’s commitment to fostering long-term, high-risk research and development.
The Alchemist Project operates in three phases: conceptual research, preliminary research, and the main research phase, with funding increasing at each stage to support the most promising and competitive projects.
With these three new additions, the total number of projects in the main research phase under the Alchemist Project has risen to seven.
Previously selected projects include ‘Brain to X,’ which explores wireless electrodes implanted in the brain for controlling external devices through thought, and ‘Soft Implants,’ focusing on the development of artificial organ modules.
Lee Minwoo, director general of the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy’s Technology Convergence Policy Bureau, highlighted the Alchemist Project’s visible progress within two years of its initiation.
He emphasized the government’s strategy to allocate over 10% of the annual new budget to solving industrial challenges and pursuing a 1 trillion won feasibility study for securing top game-changer technologies, demonstrating a strong commitment to supporting ambitious and innovative R&D endeavors.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
