GYEONGJU, North Gyeongsang Province — South Korea and the United States signed a expertise cooperation pact Wednesday, pledging to boost collaboration in synthetic intelligence, quantum computing and different rising applied sciences.
The settlement, dubbed the “Technology Prosperity Deal,” was signed by Ha Jung-woo, Seoul’s senior secretary to the president for AI and future planning, and Michael Kratsios, director of the US’ White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, on the sidelines of the Korea-US summit throughout APEC conferences in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province.
“The agreement we are signing today will be built on a strong foundation expanding our cooperation to key areas including AI, biotech, 6G, quantum and space exploration,” Ha mentioned through the signing ceremony. “I’m confident that this will be an important milestone to our shared prosperity.”
Under the pact, the 2 nations will collaborate in key two areas — accelerating AI software and innovation and advancing trusted expertise management. The deal goals to strengthen expertise sovereignty and guarantee safe, clear growth of next-generation applied sciences, the ministry mentioned.
Noting that the indicators the US’ “deep respect” for Korea as a trusted expertise accomplice, Kratsios mentioned the bilateral efforts of the 2 nations will promote “full-stack” AI export offers around the globe that incorporate applied sciences of each nations.
“The US-Korea Technology Prosperity deal will advance our interests by coordinating US and Korean AI exports, strengthening both countries’ export controls and enforcement and refocusing the partnership between the US center for AI standards innovation and its Korean counterpart towards AI metrology and standards progress,” Kratsios mentioned.
Under the brand new deal, Seoul and Washington will develop a joint AI coverage framework, cooperate on full-stack AI expertise exports and promote a shared AI ecosystem in Asia and past. They additionally agreed to work collectively on growing reliable AI techniques, shared datasets and security requirements for AI use.
Their settlement additionally covers next-generation communications, biotechnology provide chains, quantum analysis and area exploration. Both governments mentioned they’ll strengthen analysis safety and increase fundamental science cooperation and expertise exchanges.
Following the signing ceremony, Kratsios and Ha additionally held closed-door talks to focus on the subsequent steps to develop their pact. According to Seoul’s Science Ministry, the Korea-US Joint Committee on Science and Technology will oversee implementation, with the subsequent assembly to be held in Washington in 2026.
The Technology Prosperity Deal expands the 2 nations’ long-standing science and expertise partnership that started with a 1992 bilateral accord and later prolonged to nuclear vitality and area exploration. It follows related agreements on tech cooperation that the US signed with Japan on Tuesday and final month with the UK.
“This agreement marks the first step in our shared efforts to actively shape the future together through innovation rather than passively waiting for it to unfold,” Ha mentioned.
“Building on this MOU (memorandum of understanding) the Korean government will continue to support technological cooperation and innovation between our two countries and actively engage the private sector to achieve meaningful tangible results.”
The administration of US President Donald Trump has made AI and quantum computing key pillars of its expertise coverage, in search of to counter China’s state-backed investments in these fields. Washington introduced its AI motion plan in July and has since accelerated growth of AI infrastructure.
Seoul can also be making ready its personal AI motion plan, anticipated in November, aimed toward fostering a public-private AI innovation ecosystem and driving nationwide AI transformation.
By Jo He-rim ([email protected])