KISTEP held “KISTEP Think 2024: Science and Technology Innovation Policy Agendas” on December 7, 2023.

The debate covered the achievements of the KISTEP Think 2023’s 10 agendas and identified 10 major STI policy agendas that need to be promoted in 2024 to respond to internal and external issues such as technology hegemony, generative AI, climate change, low birth rate, and aging society.

The event was presided over by Byoung-Ho Son, Vice President of KISTEP, and consisted of opening remarks by President Byung-Seon Jeong, a presentation by Hyun-Kyu Kang, Director of the Center for Strategy Planning, and panel discussion. The details will be released later through the KISTEP YouTube channel.

△ President Byung-Seon Jeong

In the opening speech, President Byung-Seon Jeong said, “Digital transformation has become so close that we can feel it, and it is time for a new transformation in terms of the R&D system. As S&T are changing rapidly, a new perspective is needed to establish policies.” He also suggested, “As this is an event where various entities for innovation participate, I hope it will be an opportunity to think deeply about S&T and diagnose and discuss fundamental problems.”

△ Hyun-Kyu Kang, Director of the Center for Strategy Planning

In the presentation, Hyun-Kyu Kang introduced policy environment changes and prospects from six major transitional perspectives: “Global supply chain (GVC) transformation due to US-China hegemony competition”, “Data-based digital transformation accelerated by generative AI”, “Energy transition to combat climate change that threatens human survival”, “A major shift in population structure due to low birth rate and aging”, “Productivity transition to overcome entrenched low growth”, and “A major transformation of the national R&D system, leading the innovation challenge.”

【Think 2024 10 STI Policy Agendas】

1. Securing S&T sovereignty in the era of technology hegemony

➀ Global R&D cooperation to lead S&T

➁ Establishment and implementation of national strategic technology development policy to strengthen technology sovereignty

➂ Strengthening the system for nurturing and utilizing key talent in strategic technology fields

➃ Enhancing tech-intelligence capabilities

2. Mission-oriented and leading national R&D system innovation

➄ Strengthening mission-oriented R&D budget allocation, coordination, and evaluation linkage

➅ Institutional and infrastructure innovation to promote innovation-oriented R&D

➆ Expand R&D on urgent national tasks to realize people’s happiness and a safe society

3. Strengthening the private and regionally led innovation ecosystem

➇ Building an innovation ecosystem for AI-based digital transformation

➈ Improvement of R&D support system to promote private sector-led innovation

➉ Strengthening the foundation for regionally led STI to overcome the crisis of local extinction

“We will strive to continuously manage and improve the existing agendas and discover new agendas by improving the execution of the KISTEP Think 2024 policy agendas, improving the Think-Tank function that strengthens the connection between KISTEP research programs and the agendas, and inspecting the status,” he added.

△ Byoung-Ho Son, Vice President of KISTEP

The following panel discussion was chaired by Byoung-Ho Son, Vice President of KISTEP, and an in-depth discussion between Hyunmo Yang, CEO of WISERs Co., Sam Youl Lee, Professor at Yonsei University, Taehyun Jung, Professor at Hanyang University, and Juseon Kim, Director General of the National Research Council of Science & Technology.

△ Hyunmo Yang, CEO of WISERs Co.

Hyunmo Yang, CEO of WISERs Co., emphasized, “It is necessary to discover appropriate policies that can meet the expectations for S&T, and the progress and performance of previously presented agendas must be reviewed.” He also suggested that it is necessary to consider policies to create a culture for the younger generation to attract and succeed as scientists and engineers.

△ Sam Youl Lee, Professor at Yonsei University

Sam Youl Lee, Professor at Yonsei University, explained, “Technology belongs to companies, not the country, so from the perspective of the national technology innovation system, companies should be the ones leading the technology.” He also pointed out that the current reality is that universities and government-funded research institutes are not attractive workplaces for excellent S&T talent, and that STI may not be a good solution to solving local extinction.

△ Taehyun Jung, Professor at Hanyang University

Taehyun Jung, Professor at Hanyang University said, “It is necessary to pursue substantial international cooperation by strengthening the international cooperation R&D base and to actively expand the horizons of S&T through consilience with politics, economy, society, and culture rather than simply staying in tech-intelligence.” Regarding regional innovation, “Taking into account the situation of polarized regions, a strategy according to the development stage of each region is needed,” he added.

△ Juseon Kim, Director General of the National Research Council of Science & Technology

Juseon Kim, Director General of the National Research Council of Science & Technology, said, “We have put a lot of effort into discovering the 2024 agendas, and I feel that policies are moving ahead of the curve,” and emphasized that advance notice procedures are important for policy changes and that policies must also be predictable.

△ Group photo