Issue
Science and innovation are at the heart of government strategy for promoting prosperity and growth. We are working with Korea to deepen our international collaboration on research and knowledge exchange, providing opportunities for people in the UK and Korea to work with the best in the world, exchange students and researchers, and gain access to large scale international facilities; in turn leading to mutual benefits for UK and Korea.
Actions
To promote international collaboration the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office jointly fund the UK Science and Innovation Network (SIN), based in 28 countries around the world.
In line with SIN global objectives, we are:
influencing the science and innovation policies of the Korean government, industry and academia to benefit the UK
improving UK policy based on international experience and emerging opportunities and challenges with Korea
stimulating strategic science collaborations with Korea to benefit the UK and deliver wider policy goals
harnessing international technology partnerships and investment to grow UK innovation capability
Science and Innovation in Korea
Having undergone a process of remarkable change and development since the end of the Korean War, the Republic of Korea (Korea) now ranks as one of the leading developers and exporters of technology.
In 2011 Korea spent $59.89 billion (approx. £36 billion) on R&D, maintaining its position as the fifth largest R&D investor in the world after the United States, China, Japan and Germany. Korea is also a leader in terms of R&D intensity with a gross expenditure on R&D (GERD) of 4.03%. The bulk of R&D is performed by the industrial sector (73.7%), with the remainder funded by the government and performed by the national research institutes and universities.
In June 2012, the new Korean administration announced its strategy for R&D support in the Third Korean Science and Technology Basic Plan. Overseen by the National Science and Technology Council, the new ‘High Five’ Strategy will focus on the translation of research output into new products, the generation of science and technology related jobs and small to medium sized enterprises, and increased support for basic sciences. Thirty technologies have been identified as economic priorities. Aligning strongly with the UK’s ‘Eight Great Technologies’ and industrial strategies, Korean government support is to be concentrated upon the healthcare, biosciences, ICT and new materials research sectors and provides interesting opportunities for collaboration with UK researchers.
To address the recognised need for a stronger basic science platform for future technological development, in 2012 the Korean government inaugurated the Institute for Basic Science (IBS). Modelled after the Max Planck Society (Germany) and RIKEN (Japan), the government has committed to the investment of $3 billion (£1.9 billion) between 2012 and 2015 in 25 autonomous institutes and the construction of a rare isotope accelerator. A core group of the institutes will be constructed together with the IBS headquarters in Korea’s science city of Daejeon, with the remaining institutes to be located at research institutions and universities.
SIN Korea Reports and Recent Successes
SIN Korea’s recent successes include:
MOTIE Global Industry-Academia Programme - The University of Strathclyde beat strong European competition to be chosen as the second foreign university partner of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy’s (MOTIE) Global Industry-Academia Programme. Strathclyde will partner with Korean SMEs to collaborate on close-to-market research, with both partners receiving funding from MOTIE.
Supporting the generation of UK university grant applications for the Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology’s (SAIT) Global Research Outreach (GRO) program. In 2013 the universities of Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Oxford and University College London were awarded grants, making the UK the second largest recipient of SAIT GRO funding.
Signed during the state visit of President Park Geun-hye to the UK, the universities of Newcastle and Strathclyde signed agreements with the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT) and the Korean Shipbuilders’ Association (KOSHIPA) for the development of a multi-million pound public-private partnership for the training of Korean offshore engineering industrial researchers in the UK.
Opportunities (research and funding)
The UK and Korea have first signed their Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement in 1985. A part of a biennial revue of cooperation activities, the UK’s Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and the Korean Ministries of Science ICT & Future Planning (MSIP), Trade, Industry & Energy (MOTIE) and Health & Welfare (MOHW) meet to agree the new areas of collaboration. The Global Partnership Fund (GPF), supported by BIS and the FCO, facilitates research exchange and networking workshops between researchers in the UK and Korea. These GPF supported exchanges have in the past expanded to full research activities, with the potential for UK researchers to access Korean government funding.
BIS/MSIP Focal Point Programme: The research areas selected for 2013 were quantum and nano-optics, nano-bio catalysis, plastic electronics and synthetic biology.
BIS/MOTIE Science, Technology and Innovation Partnership (STIP) Programme: The projects running in 2013 include themes such as flexible and printed electronics, translational neuroimaging, energy storage systems, cell cycles, nuclear decommissioning and cyber security.
BIS/MOHW Alzheimer’s Programme: In November 2010, BIS and MOHW signed an agreement to support a joint collaboration programme funded principally by the Korean Government (over £0.5 million per year) to look at the causes and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. The eighth meeting of this partnership met in Bristol in July 2013.
Contact details for SIN Korea team
Gareth Davies – Head of Science and Innovation, British Embassy Seoul
Tel: +82 (0)2 3210 5628
Email: Gareth.Davies@fco.gov.uk
Themes managed: science policy, automotive, aerospace and engineering.
Hyeyoung Kim – Science and Innovation Manager, British Embassy Seoul
Tel: + 82 (0)2 3210 5594
Email: Hyeyoung.Kim@fco.gov.uk
Themes managed: basic science, health and life sciences, biotechnology and nanotechnology.
Eunjeoung (EJ) Kim – Science and Innovation Officer, British Embassy Seoul
Tel: +82 (0)2 3210 5636
Email: Eunjeoung.Kim@fco.gov.uk
Themes managed: energy (incl. nuclear safety and security), cyber security and the environment.
For research sectors not specifically mentioned above or for general enquiries, please contact Eunjeoung Kim.
UK Science and Innovation Network
British Embassy Seoul
Sejong-daero 19-gil 24. Jung-gu
Seoul 100-120
Republic of Korea
Tel: + 82 (0)2 3210 5500
Fax: + 82 (0)2 3210 5637