S. Korea's "Super Gap R&D Strategy" Boosts Key Tech Fields

South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) has announced the “Three Key Technologies Super Gap R&D Strategy” to secure future core technologies in semiconductors, displays, and next-generation batteries.

The strategy was developed in response to President Yoon Seok-yeol’s directive at the 14th Emergency Economic Cabinet Meeting, which called for accelerated private investment in high-tech industries and government support for R&D, human resources, and taxation.

As global competition for technological supremacy and protectionism of domestic industries intensifies, the South Korean government aims to maintain its superior capabilities in semiconductors, displays, and next-generation batteries through proactive R&D investment through public-private cooperation.

Since last year, MSIT has been operating a task force composed of industry, academic, and research experts in these three fields to prepare an ultra-gap R&D strategy.

To address these three key technology gaps, it is necessary to establish a public-private inter-ministerial research council, focus R&D on future core technologies, train high-level personnel and experts, develop research infrastructure, and strengthen international cooperation.

The government and the private sector will jointly invest KRW 160 trillion ($131 billion) in public-private R&D funds over five years through 2027 to secure cutting-edge technologies and create new markets in the three core technologies.

One hundred future core technologies have been selected, including 45 in semiconductors, 28 in displays, and 27 in next-generation batteries.

MSIT Minister Jong-ho Lee emphasized the importance of semiconductors, displays, and next-generation batteries as pillar technologies to support South Korea’s economy.

He pledged to increase R&D investment through public-private cooperation further to secure world-class super-gap technologies in these fields.