S. Korean gov't restores its science innovation meeting after 11 years
이총리, "4차산업혁명으로 모든 분야에 전례없는 변화... 정부가 직시해야"
South Korea continues its push for innovative growth in science and technology, especially in the field of R&D.
A meeting of related ministers took place for the first time in eleven years to further tackle the issues at hand.
Cha Sang-mi has the highlights from that session.
The South Korean government's innovation meeting that has been on hold over a decade has been restored.
"Today we begin the science and technology related ministers meeting for the first time in 11 years. This meeting went on for three years from 2004, but was halted due to change in administration."
Citing how the country's potential growth rate has edged down to 2-point-9 percent from above 3 percent, Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon during the meeting on Wednesday called on the ministers to embrace the broad shifts stemming from the fourth industrial revolution.
"We need to raise creativity and dynamism in the economy, society and culture through innovations in policies and processes. It is high time for the integration of conventional state affairs with science and technology through R&D."
The PM said for the first time in the nation's history, nearly 18 billion U.S. dollars of the government's annual budget has been allocated to the R&D sector.
But he also pointed out the sector's lackluster performance, due to the lack of human resources and marginal efficiency.
The Minister of Science and ICT, and 15 other ministers discussed the direction of R&D innovation, as well as medium and long-term plans for dementia research, a huge issue since over 14 percent of Korea's population is over 65 years old. The ministers also discussed fostering the talent required for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, namely in artificial intelligence and data analysis.
The restoration of the technology innovation meeting comes after President Moon Jae-in ordered increased innovation in research and development.
The Prime Minister will chair the meeting every month.
Cha Sang-mi, Arirang News.
South Korea continues its push for innovative growth in science and technology, especially in the field of R&D.
A meeting of related ministers took place for the first time in eleven years to further tackle the issues at hand.
Cha Sang-mi has the highlights from that session.
The South Korean government's innovation meeting that has been on hold over a decade has been restored.
"Today we begin the science and technology related ministers meeting for the first time in 11 years. This meeting went on for three years from 2004, but was halted due to change in administration."
Citing how the country's potential growth rate has edged down to 2-point-9 percent from above 3 percent, Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon during the meeting on Wednesday called on the ministers to embrace the broad shifts stemming from the fourth industrial revolution.
"We need to raise creativity and dynamism in the economy, society and culture through innovations in policies and processes. It is high time for the integration of conventional state affairs with science and technology through R&D."
The PM said for the first time in the nation's history, nearly 18 billion U.S. dollars of the government's annual budget has been allocated to the R&D sector.
But he also pointed out the sector's lackluster performance, due to the lack of human resources and marginal efficiency.
The Minister of Science and ICT, and 15 other ministers discussed the direction of R&D innovation, as well as medium and long-term plans for dementia research, a huge issue since over 14 percent of Korea's population is over 65 years old. The ministers also discussed fostering the talent required for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, namely in artificial intelligence and data analysis.
The restoration of the technology innovation meeting comes after President Moon Jae-in ordered increased innovation in research and development.
The Prime Minister will chair the meeting every month.
Cha Sang-mi, Arirang News.