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Using the Old to Create the New: Science Revives Traditional Culture and Technology (2016.10.07)
- Date : 2017-04-20
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Global Cooperation Department
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Using the Old to Create the New:
Science Revives Traditional Culture and Technology
On Tuesday, October 4, the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) Center for Traditional Science and Technology held a launching ceremony for its Traditional Culture Convergent Research Project. The project will be conducted under the slogan, “A Future Made by Tradition and Science,” and the launching ceremony took place at the KIST campus in Seoul.
Hosted by the Ministry of Science, ICT, and Future Planning and organized by the KIST Center for Traditional Science and Technology, the ceremony included the announcement of a vision for a “traditional cultural industry led by science and technology,” the inauguration of both the Traditional Culture Convergent Research Project and the Traditional Renaissance Support Group, and briefings on three current areas of R&D. The launching ceremony was followed by subsidiary events intended to promote the traditional cultural industry, including the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
In conjunction with the launching of the Traditional Culture Convergent Research Project, the Traditional Renaissance Support Group was organized to pursue the convergence of traditional culture and modern science and technology, with a view to industrialize and boost the value of traditional culture, thereby increasing cultural prosperity. The Traditional Renaissance Support Group’s tasks include establishing a foundation for the traditional cultural industry, vitalizing R&D activities, and helping establish a self-reliant industrial ecosystem for traditional Korean culture.
The three R&D areas to be pursued under the Traditional Culture Convergent Research Project are fermented soybean-derived probiotics for improved bowel health, “smart” 3D printing materials based on traditional crafts and architectural instruments, and high-strength tools (e.g., quality knives) that utilize traditional steelmaking techniques.
From healthy food ingredients to household items to architectural tools and materials, these are areas of traditional knowledge already familiar to the general public. Not only will the Traditional Culture Convergent Research Project help expand existing traditional cultural markets, it will also contribute to the creation of entirely new ones.
In line with the stated vision for the project, other highlights of the launching ceremony included an introduction to the center’s primary activities apart from R&D, such as establishing a support platform to assist the traditional cultural industry in identifying potential areas for technological development and to help businesses with troubleshooting, educating and fostering human resources to ensure sustainable future development, and commercializing and publicizing project outcomes.