South Korea and the United States have signed several agreements to enhance their collaboration on technology for chips, robots and other advanced industries, according to Seoul’s industry ministry.
Joint research projects on next-generation technologies
The two nations held a forum on technology exchanges in Seoul on Thursday, which was attended by South Korea’s First Vice Industry Minister Jang Young-jin and U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves, as well as dozens of experts and corporate officials.
During the forum, the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Yale University to establish a cooperative mechanism regarding next-generation technologies.
KIAT also signed an agreement with MassRobotics on joint robot projects, and its MOU with the U.S.’ MAKER was meant to work together in the smart manufacturing field.
“We will allow foreign researchers to join our projects on industry technologies. South Korea and the U.S. will launch around 50 joint R&D projects starting next year to be carried out by leading companies and global research institutions,” Jang said.
Deepening cooperation on the chip sector
The attendees also discussed ways to deepen cooperation on the chip sector, which is vital for both countries’ economic and national security interests.
South Korea is home to Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, the world’s top two memory chip makers, while the U.S. has leading fabless firms such as Qualcomm and Nvidia.
The two sides agreed to share information and best practices on chip supply chain resilience, innovation and policy support, as well as to explore opportunities for joint investment and collaboration.
They also reaffirmed their commitment to work together to address the global chip shortage that has disrupted various industries, especially the automotive sector.
Boosting exchanges of young talents
The forum also aimed to boost exchanges of young talents in science and technology fields, as both countries recognize the importance of nurturing human resources for future growth.
The ministry said it will expand its support for Korean students and researchers who wish to study or work in the U.S., as well as for American counterparts who are interested in Korea’s technology ecosystem.
It also said it will facilitate more networking and mentoring opportunities between Korean and American experts and entrepreneurs, as well as promote cultural and educational exchanges.
The forum was part of the Korea-U.S. Technology Cooperation Initiative, which was launched in July this year during President Moon Jae-in’s visit to Washington.
The initiative is designed to strengthen bilateral cooperation on technology development, innovation and industrial competitiveness in various fields, such as semiconductors, biotechnology, clean energy and digital economy.
