Technology development needs survey to target more than 2,000 companies and institutions across industry, academia and research
The government is moving to identify 10 breakthrough technologies that could help mid-sized companies grow into world-class enterprises. It plans to select candidate projects by the end of this year and launch full-scale research and development in 2029.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy held an information session Wednesday at the Korea Technology Center in Seoul for the "World Class 10 Wings Project," drawing about 100 participants from mid-sized companies, universities and research institutes.
The project is a large-scale R&D initiative designed to help mid-sized firms break free from subcontracting arrangements in which they depend on larger client companies, and instead grow into industry leaders driven by their own independent technological capabilities.
The ministry plans to identify 10 candidate projects by the end of this year, conduct preliminary research in 2027 and pilot projects in 2028, then launch the main program in 2029.
To that end, it will conduct a technology development needs survey targeting more than 2,000 companies and institutions across industry, academia and research through the end of this month. Companies, universities and research institutes with technology development needs may submit a survey form — covering the innovation potential and industrial impact of proposed technologies — by Nov. 25.
The ministry will compile the 10 candidate projects by combining technologies proposed at the information session with those identified through analysis of global supply chains and patents.
In selecting projects, the ministry will focus on potential ripple effects on global supply chains and industrial ecosystems, as well as the likelihood that mid-sized companies can take the lead in the relevant technology and market.
Selected projects will receive a comprehensive support package covering core technology development, patents and standards, demonstration and certification, and entry into overseas markets.
The ministry said it plans to finalize the 10 candidate projects by year's end through expert group reviews and open hackathon-style discussions, drawing on both bottom-up technologies identified through the information session and needs survey and top-down technologies identified through global supply chain and patent analysis.
It added that the final selection will weigh the broader impact of each technology — as a system-level technology spanning materials, components, equipment, processes and finished products — on global supply chains and industrial ecosystems, as well as whether mid-sized companies are positioned to lead in the relevant market and technology.
oskymoon@heraldcorp.com
