KISTEP hosted an open forum among 「Science and Technology related Local Institutes」 on February 2 at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry building for discussion on the plan to improve the local promotion system of science and technology.
 
KISTEP is running a policy study society organized by the specialists in local R&D policies and the related persons from science and technology related institutes for in-depth study on the plan to improve the local R&D system it is establishing as an action plan of the 4th Local Science and Technology Promotion Master Plan together with the MSIP.
 
The open forum on that day began with the opening address of Youngah Park, the president of KISTEP, and was followed by the topic presentations, panel discussion organized by the related persons from the related institutes and the specialists in local R&D policies, and the questions and answer session for the audience.
 
Through a topic presentation on the Local R&D Comprehensive Aid Project, Meeryung Song, the Research Department Manager of Korea Rural Economic Institute, who was the first topic presenter drew implications that ▲ local characteristics should be reflected and the local leadership should be reinforced by arranging a mechanism where demand from a district can be taken care of by the district, ▲ efficiency in execution of budget should be enhanced by reducing excessive interference by the central government, and ▲ a phased approach through preparation by the central government and local governments is required.
 
Then, Sehong Oh, a senior researcher of KISTEP, emphasized, "Now is the time we have to break away from the central-government-dependent and central- government-centric uniformly centralized R&D policy structure. For this, effective R&D investment should be promoted by establishing a district-led organization of each district exclusively in charge of R&D and building a system that autonomously plans and coordinates a customized R&D for advancement of the district."
 
Lastly, Professor Wonhee Lee of Hankyong National University asserted that cooperation between the central government and local governments is required to be reinforced for systematic management of R&D budgets of local governments, and a budget item system is required to be managed being linked with creative development of technologies and performance management considering local characteristics.

The topic presentations were followed by the discussion on the plan to improve the local R&D promotion system under the chairmanship of Dongwook Park, the chairman of the local council. During this session, discussions were conducted in relation to a concrete operation plan of the Comprehensive Aid Project, roles of the institutes exclusively in charge of local R&D, and differentiation from the existing institutes in the district. The matters discussed in this open forum are planned to be utilized later when establishing the directions of science and technology promotion policies after being discussed among departments or reviewed by the National Science & Technology Council (NSTC).