The Korea Institute of S&T Evaluation and Planning (KISTEP, President Byung-Seon Jeong) held the 147th Wednesday Forum on June 8. The theme of this forum was “R&D Paradigm shift for Private-led Innovative Growth” to discuss measures to expand the role of the private sector and promote the creation and utilization of quality R&D outcomes.

Byung-Seon Jeong, president of KISTEP, said, “It is important to gather the capabilities of the public and private sectors to achieve carbon neutrality. This forum will overview the opportunities and challenges for carbon neutrality in global steel industry. We look forward to an in-depth discussion on government R&D strategies and systems changes for private-led national growth.”

△Byung-Seon Jeong, President of KISTEP

In the presentation, Dr. Sang-Ho Yi, a senior research fellow of POSCO, focused on the current state of the Korean coal-based steel industry, changes in the global steel process, national R&D plans to respond to the R&D paradigm shift for private-led innovative growth.

△Dr. Sang-Ho Yi, Senior Research Fellow, POSCO

As a measure to improve national R&D, Dr. Yi suggested changing the role of the government as a platform that connects companies and national R&D, clarifying the stages of technology development and introducing the concept of BLPC, and building a platform to secure the dynamism of the industrial ecosystem through connection and collaboration.

Soon-Cheon Byeon, Director general of the office of S&T policy planning of KISTEP, led the panel discussion with the participation of Inwan Sohn, vice president of Hanwha Solutions, Dr. Youn Hee Choi, a senior research fellow at KIET, and Dr. Gyu Taek Lee, managing director of the office of strategic R&D planning.

△Inwan Sohn, Vice President of Hanwha Solutions

Inwan Sohn again emphasized the importance of seeking solutions for carbon reduction and said that carbon neutrality should be realized through reductive steel, such as the use of next-generation new processes and green energy. In addition, he suggested that effective R&D budget allocation is necessary, such as setting priorities based on national economic impact and the need for national support for industries.

△Dr. Youn Hee Choi, Senior Research Fellow, KIET

Dr. Youn Hee Choi, said that it is necessary to expand ‘Market-driven R&D,’ which corresponds to the need of industries. Also, she argues that social consensus on mission-oriented innovation policies needs to be achieved for effective linkage between S&T R&D policies, industry-academia, and research institutes.

△Dr. Gyu Taek Lee, Managing Director, Office of Strategic R&D Planning

Dr. Gyu Taek Lee stated that we need to focus not only on R&D paradigm shift but on the target and direction of R&D. He also pointed out that the government should shift the R&D policy direction to people-oriented policy in order to resolve the shortage of R&D personnel due to population aging and address the need to improve productivity.