On the morning of the morning of the 19th, the 1st Vice Minister of Science and Technology Information and Communication Jeong Byeong-seon is giving a briefing for the ‘2021 Ministry of Science and Technology Information and Communication’ work plan’ in the press room of the Ministry of Science and ICT at the Sejong Finance Center in Sejong City. Provided by the Ministry of Science and Technology.
In March this year, a semiconductor diagnostic kit that diagnoses patients with novel coronavirus infections (COVID-19, Corona 19) within 3 minutes with only saliva will be commercialized. In the second half of the year, the Korea Virus Basic Research Institute will be established, and the launch of the Korean-type launch vehicle’Nuri’ will be promoted in October.
The Ministry of Science and ICT announced on the 20th a work plan for 2021 that focuses on’recovery’,’inclusive’ and’leap’ based on the core initiatives of 2021 centered on such a plan.
The Ministry of Science and ICT will first fully support the development of rapid diagnostic kits and vaccines and treatments to overcome the Corona 19 crisis situation. It proposed a goal of commercialization in March of this year by applying for approval and development of a Corona 19 semiconductor diagnostic kit that diagnoses infection within 3 minutes with only saliva.
Among the drug candidates discovered through drug re-creation that explores the effects of existing drugs on the treatment of COVID-19, it plans to quickly apply a domestic drug that has completed phase 2 clinical trials in cooperation with the Ministry of Health and Welfare. It plans to support the rapid development of vaccines developed in Korea by providing customized support for preclinical and overseas clinical trials.
In the second half of this year, the Korea Virus Basic Research Institute will be established to enhance basic research capabilities for future infectious diseases.
In order to’leap’, the government will also prepare a blueprint for the development of core technologies to realize ‘2050 carbon neutrality’, which the government has declared to promote’zero carbon emissions’ by 2050. In March, a’carbon-neutral R&D investment direction’ is established and a mid- to long-term technology roadmap is presented.
The first launch of the Korean launch vehicle’Nuri’, a space rocket developed with its own technology, will be launched in October this year. The Nuri is the world’s 7th rocket capable of sending a 1.5t-class practical medium-sized satellite into outer space. The plan is to prepare for the launch of Korea’s first lunar orbiter scheduled for 2022. In particular, in July last year, the revision of the Korean-US missile guidelines allowed the launch of space rockets using solid fuels, and plans to build a launch site for solid fuels from this year.
It will also provide support to prepare future food such as bio, materials, parts, and equipment (small manager). In the bio field, the construction of a national biodata station that integrates and provides scattered research data is being promoted. In order to respond to the general manager, research on key items for supply chain stability will be expanded, and future leading items that have created a new supply chain will be selected in the first half of this year.
Along with this, we are also setting up an environment where researchers can devote themselves to research. As the’National R&D Innovation Act’ comes into force in January of this year, the policy is to speedily promote regulations and system maintenance scattered by departments. The researcher-led basic research budget is also aimed at completing the national government project of expanding the budget from 1.26 trillion won in 2017 to 2.52 trillion won in 2022.
The’Digital New Deal’ project, which will invest a total of 5.8 trillion won by 2025, is also speeding up. It plans to promote the development of PIM semiconductor and next-generation artificial intelligence (AI) technology through memory and processor, and spread digital to all industries and society through the utilization of 5th generation (5G) mobile communication and AI-based convergence services.
The core strategy of’inclusion’ contained the contents of generous support so that various talents, including youth and women, can utilize. It plans to promote the application of industrial accident insurance to graduate students in science and engineering, and strengthen support so that postdoctoral researchers can freely lead research.
Minister of Science and Technology Choi Ki-young said, “This year, the Ministry of Science and Technology will make it a year of recovery and leap forward and inclusion through the innovation of Science and Technology and Information and Communication Technology (ICT).” “I will continue to push forward the core tasks for this without any hitch.”