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Thirteen Public Research Institutions Unite to Propel Korea to the Forefront of Advanced Bio-Technology (June 18, 2024)
- Date : 2024-06-20
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Thirteen Public Research Institutions Unite to Propel Korea to the Forefront of Advanced Bio-Technology
Seoul, June 18, 2024 – The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT; Minister: Jong-Ho Lee) and 13 public research institutions in the bio sector have announced the formation of a “Bio Public Research Institutions Council,” which aims to, through communication and collaboration, produce significant research outcomes that resonate with the general public. The MOU signing ceremony took place at 4:30 PM on June 18th at the Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences.
Recognizing advanced bio-technology as one of the three key future national technological game-changers, the Korean government recently unveiled the “Advanced Bio Initiative,” a strategic plan to position Korea as a global leader in the bio sector. To successfully implement this initiative and secure technological competitiveness, it is essential for public research institutions engaged in bio R&D to maximize their collective capabilities through mutual cooperation.
Internationally, collaborative research has yielded significant results in challenging areas of advanced bio-technology. For instance, the “Telomere to Telomere (T2T)” consortium, led by the US National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) and involving 33 global institutions, identified approximately 200 million previously unexplored human DNA base pairs in 2022, advancing the understanding of genetic mutations related to diseases such as cancer and dementia.
In contrast, Korea’s efforts have been hindered by siloed operations, fragmented budget management, and individual institutional goals, limiting effective responses to national agendas and the acquisition of key advanced bio-technologies. The new Council will address these issues, bringing together 13 public research institutions, the Presidential Office, and the Ministry of Science and ICT to identify collaborative research topics and discuss strategies for fostering advanced bio-technologies. The Council includes institutions affiliated with the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of Health and Welfare, ensuring comprehensive coverage of all bio sectors.
The participating institutions are:
1. Korea National Institute of Health
2. National Cancer Center
3. Korea Institute of Toxicology
4. Korea Institute of Science and Technology
5. Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information
6. Korea Basic Science Institute
7. Korea Brain Research Institute
8. Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (Council Secretariat)
9. Korea Food Research Institute
10. Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences
11. Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
12. Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine
13. Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology
Collectively, these institutions house approximately 2,700 key bio researchers and oversee around 630 billion KRW in national bio R&D funding (as of 2024). This coalition aims to propel Korea towards becoming a global bio-technology powerhouse. The Council plans to expand its membership based on future needs and demands.
The member institutes have drawn up a plan for cooperation involving the implementation of cooperative R&D projects to secure Korea's advanced bio-technology competitiveness in line with national policy through Council activities, such as planning collaborative R&D projects, sharing research facilities and equipment, nurturing core talent, and jointly producing and utilizing bio-data. The Council will also act as a think tank, identifying future bio sector agendas and discussing the direction for national bio policies. Additionally, it will actively disseminate research content and outcomes to broaden the foundation for cooperation.
During today’s ceremony, the 13 member institutions signed an MOU encapsulating these collaborative efforts, followed by a discussion on detailed Council operations, including the formation of working groups for planning joint R&D projects and organizing workshops for research outcome and information exchanges.
Pann-Ghill Suh, Director of the Korea Brain Research Institute and newly elected Chairman of the Council, stated, “The formation of this Council marks a significant first step towards fostering communication and collaboration among these 13 institutions in the bio sector. Through the Council’s activities, we will strive to fulfill our roles and deliver tangible results that benefit the general public.”
The participating institutions expect to finalize their cooperation areas by July, forming working groups to identify collaborative projects and accelerating efforts to secure key advanced bio-technologies by the end of the year.
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