South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT will use advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), intelligent quarantine air-conditioning coordination, bio interfaces and smart mobility to address social issues closely linked to people's daily lives.

The ministry said on Sunday it will 추진 4 new projects under its "2026 programme to support wider adoption of demonstrations that use advanced technologies to solve social problems".

The programme aims to demonstrate technologies developed in South Korea in real-world settings and deliver tangible results in solving social problems that people can feel.

This year's new projects include 2 single-type and 2 integrated-type tasks. The single-type category develops and demonstrates solutions such as products and devices based on advanced technologies for social problems caused by specific environments or factors. It will be supported at 800 million won a year for 2 years. The integrated-type category develops integrated solutions through the application and convergence of advanced technologies and the development of operating models for social problems stemming from complex environments or factors. It will be supported at 1.4 billion won a year for 3 years.

The ministry received 32 requests for research and development technologies from researchers and research institutions in March and confirmed 4 new projects after expert review.

The tasks will be carried out based on 10 key public safety response technologies. The projects are rapid AI-based response to dangerous situations using CCTV in closed protective facilities; an intelligent quarantine air-conditioning coordination system based on airborne virus detection; a demonstration study of AI-based early prediction of complex health risks and a model linked to integrated community care; and AI-based road-surface recognition smart tyres and non-pneumatic tyres for unmanned mobility. Applications will be accepted through the Integrated Research Support System (IRIS) until July 8.

The AI-based rapid-response CCTV project in closed protective facilities will develop and demonstrate technologies to respond to risks such as signs of suicide, assault, fainting and approaching restricted areas that may occur in correctional facilities, dementia care facilities, psychiatric emergency and protective wards, and child and youth protection facilities.

The ministry will also demonstrate, through the airborne virus detection-based intelligent quarantine air-conditioning coordination system project, a technology that analyses virus concentration and airflow in indoor spaces in real time and automatically controls air-conditioning equipment.

The demonstration study on early prediction of complex health risks and a model linked to integrated community care will analyse activity levels, sleep, movement patterns and biometric signals of vulnerable groups such as older people and people with disabilities to predict health risks early. The AI-based road-surface recognition smart tyre and non-pneumatic tyre project for unmanned mobility aims to develop technologies to improve driving safety for unmanned mobility such as light rail and autonomous-driving mobility.

The ministry said the new projects will build a virtuous-cycle system in which research and development results spread to sites where social problems are addressed. It will also continue to expand people-focused research and development that links technology development with demonstration and wider adoption.

Oh Dae-hyun (오대현), director general for Future Strategy Technology Policy at the ministry, said, "We will raise public safety, health and daily convenience by using advanced technologies such as AI." He added, "We will actively support outstanding research results so they can spread across society."