South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT on Tuesday awarded national strategic technology confirmation certificates and merit citations to confirmed companies and to researchers from industry, academia and research institutes who contributed to fostering strategic technologies.

The national strategic technology confirmation system verifies whether technologies held and managed by industry, academia and research institutes, or under research and development, qualify as national strategic technologies. Since it took effect in March 2024, 11 companies and 12 technologies have been confirmed. At the ceremony, five companies confirmed in the second to fourth rounds in February 2025 received certificates and plaques.

The ministry also presented citations to people who contributed to fostering national strategic technologies. Jae-beom Kim (김재범), a vice president at SK hynix, was recognised for contributing to strengthening competitiveness in AI semiconductors. Gyu-tae Kim (김규태), head of the Technology Planning Group at Samsung Electronics' Semiconductor Research Center, was recognised for contributing to strengthening advanced process capabilities through global joint research and development. Gi-ho Ryu (류기호), a patent officer at the Korea Institute of Patent Information, contributed to setting policy directions for fostering national strategic technologies through trend analysis based on patent big data.

The ministry said it is expanding support for companies confirmed under the national strategic technology system. Companies confirmed as holding and managing national strategic technologies can receive preferential treatment when applying for a special listing on the stock market.

Companies confirmed as holding and managing national strategic technologies, or conducting research and development, receive benefits such as added points when being selected as designated military service companies and support through policy finance. From this year, added points will also be given in selection evaluations for information and communications and broadcasting technology development projects.

Bae Kyung-hoon (배경훈), deputy prime minister and minister of science and ICT, said the foundation for fostering national strategic technologies could be laid thanks to the dedication of researchers who have quietly led research and development and industrial sites. He urged them to continue to serve as strong key players in national strategic technologies that open the future of South Korea.