On the sixth, on the ‘Tenth Anniversary Academic Conference of the Korean Scientists and Technologists Association in China’ held in Beijing, President Jeong Yong-sam (fifth from left within the entrance row) and Ambassador to China Noh Jae-heon (sixth from left) pose for a photograph. Beijing = Kim Cheol-joong, Correspondent [email protected]
Amid the intensifying competitors between South Korea and China on account of modifications of their financial constructions, there’s a name for steady strengthening of scientific and technological cooperation. Rather than the previous mannequin of leveraging South Korea’s technological superiority and China’s large-scale market, cooperation using China’s wonderful analysis infrastructure and academia-industry collaboration system, specializing in power and local weather points, is important. With science and know-how influencing worldwide order, safety, and sovereignty, the position of Korean scientists energetic in China has grow to be extra vital.
● “Need to Find Areas for ‘Risk Sharing’ with China”
Kim Jun-yeon, Director of the Korea-China Science and Technology Cooperation Center, said within the keynote speech on the ‘Tenth Anniversary General Meeting and Academic Conference of the Korean Scientists and Technologists Association in China (KSTAC)’ held in Beijing on the sixth, that “the industrial structures of South Korea and China have a similarity of up to 96%, and the capabilities of Chinese companies like CATL and Xiaomi have significantly improved.” Since the deployment of the THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) system in South Korea in 2016, the proportion of China in South Korea’s complete abroad funding has dropped to about 3%.
However, Kim expressed that fully severing cooperation with China carries vital dangers. China is already fiercely competing with the United States for management in superior know-how fields such as synthetic intelligence (AI) and batteries. If China dominates the know-how requirements in sure fields, market entry itself might grow to be troublesome, making it difficult to decide on one aspect. Kim emphasised, “The era when South Korea could leverage its technological superiority to cooperate with China in industrial or technological research fields is over, and a new 2.0 cooperation model is needed.”
Kim Jun-yeon, Director of the Korea-China Science and Technology Cooperation Center, delivering the keynote speech on the ‘Tenth Anniversary Academic Conference of the Korean Scientists and Technologists Association in China’ held in Beijing on the sixth. Beijing = Kim Cheol-joong, Correspondent [email protected]
To this finish, Kim proposed approaching China as a ‘enormous laboratory’ with well-established analysis infrastructure and academia-industry collaboration programs. He famous, “China allocates 30% of its R&D support budget to young and challenging researchers, creating a foundation for innovative research outcomes, unlike South Korea and Japan.” He defined that in analysis fields that may lead the longer term however carry excessive dangers relative to funding, such as power, local weather, growing old, and area, cooperation with China can permit for threat sharing.
The discussion board was attended not solely by Korean scientists in China but in addition by famend students in worldwide politics. Kim Sang-bae, a professor on the Department of Political Science and International Relations at Seoul National University, emphasised, “Terms like alliance, security, and sovereignty, which are often attached to the word technology these days, are primarily used in international politics. AI, for example, can disrupt international order beyond the economy and into the military field.”
However, Professor Kim cautioned in opposition to viewing superior know-how cooperation solely from a geopolitical perspective. He identified, “South Korea has enjoyed prosperity through mutual cooperation and collaboration in advanced technology fields. We should avoid determining our future direction by being caught up in the geopolitical competition of major powers.”
● 10 Years of KSTAC… “Expect More Achievements in the Future”
The KSTAC, which held its Tenth-anniversary educational convention on today, began as a small gathering of Korean scientists in China in 2015. Since then, it has performed a pivotal position in not solely fostering cooperation amongst its members but in addition serving as a focus for a sensible Korea-China educational community. In his opening speech, KSTAC President Jeong Yong-sam said, “We have faithfully served as a bridge for the exchange and cooperation of scientific and technological talents between Korea and China,” including, “We will not be satisfied with the achievements of the past 10 years and will prepare for a more challenging next decade.”
KSTAC President Jeong Yong-sam delivering the opening speech on stage on the ‘Tenth Anniversary Academic Conference of the Korean Scientists and Technologists Association in China’ held in Beijing on the sixth. Beijing = Kim Cheol-joong, Correspondent [email protected]
In his congratulatory handle, Ambassador to China Noh Jae-heon urged, “I hope that Korea and China will create a development direction that can contribute to the region and humanity through cooperation.” Acting President of the Korean Federation of Science and Technology Societies, Kim Min-soo, additionally remarked, “Korea and China, sharing a long history and culture, are partners leading technological advancement for Asia to emerge as the world’s center,” including, “The role of Korean scientists in China has become more important in a situation where the pace of technological change, including deep tech, is rapidly accelerating.”
To mark its Tenth anniversary, KSTAC additionally printed a e-book titled ‘The Rise of Chinese Science and Technology in 2026 and Future Prospects.’ The e-book accommodates numerous analyses on the quickly advancing stage of Chinese know-how, the innovation methods in every discipline that made this potential, and new fashions of Korea-China know-how cooperation.
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