South Korea and France are strengthening science, technology and digital cooperation focused on AI, semiconductors and quantum technology. The two governments will run a regular consultative body and pursue joint research, while expanding cooperation between universities and research institutes.

The Ministry of Science and ICT said on Sept. 9 that it signed a memorandum of understanding on Sept. 8 local time in Paris to strengthen cooperation in AI, semiconductors and quantum technology, on the occasion of President Lee Jae-myung (이재명)’s state visit to France.

The agreement details a letter of intent signed when French President Emmanuel Macron (에마뉘엘 마크롱) visited South Korea on April 3 to expand cooperation on AI, semiconductors and quantum technology. Under the latest deal, the two countries will hold regular meetings in AI and quantum fields and pursue joint research among researchers and identify projects by innovative companies. They will also join forces to attract investment for mutual market entry.

Bae Kyung-hoon (배경훈), deputy prime minister and science minister, met the French minister for higher education, research and space on Sept. 9 and discussed ways to expand cooperation in AI and science and technology. The two ministers agreed to strengthen cooperation between universities and research institutes.

The trip also led to separate agreements among major universities, research institutes and companies in the two countries. The Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB) will build a global research cooperation framework in life sciences and biotechnology with France's INSA Toulouse. It also agreed with the Paris-Saclay Plant Sciences Institute (IPS2) to jointly develop next-generation crop technology to respond to climate change using AI.

In the quantum field, KRIBB will pursue joint research with French photonic quantum computing company Quandela on developing next-generation new drugs using quantum computing.

The two countries will also expand personnel and academic exchanges between universities and research institutes. The K-STAR alliance of science and technology-focused universities and Paris-Saclay University signed an agreement on inter-university cooperation. The two sides will pursue the dispatch of graduate students as lab interns, support for young researchers and joint networking. The Korea Institute for Advanced Study also agreed with Paris-Saclay University to conduct joint research in basic sciences such as mathematics and physics as well as in quantum and AI, and to run a student researcher programme.

Bae said the state visit by Lee provided an opportunity for the two countries to establish themselves as a "science and technology and digital alliance" in both name and reality. He said he would do his best to ensure the two countries' top universities, research institutes and innovative companies achieve tangible results they can feel on the ground.