The government will foster the National NanoFab Center and the Korea Nano Technology Institute as core hubs for the country’s nano research and development infrastructure. It will also expand a joint-use system for industry, academia and research institutes, from R&D to technology demonstration and links to commercialisation.

The Ministry of Science and ICT said First Vice Minister Gu Hyeok-chae (구혁채) attended a plaque ceremony for the Public NanoFab Center on July 29 at the Korea Nano Technology Institute in Suwon, Gyeonggi province. It said he also chaired a public-private meeting to discuss development directions for the Public NanoFab Center.

The event marked the designation in May of the National NanoFab Center and the Korea Nano Technology Institute as new Public NanoFab Centers. Attendees included Kim Seong-jung (김성중), Gyeonggi province’s first administrative vice governor, Park Heung-su (박흥수), head of the National NanoFab Center, Byeon Dae-seok (변대석), head of the Korea Nano Technology Institute, and officials from organisations that use the Public NanoFab Centers.

Nano technology is a foundational technology that supports the development of national strategic technologies such as semiconductors, AI, secondary batteries, advanced bio and quantum. The ability to secure and use nano fabs equipped with advanced process equipment and clean rooms is emerging as a factor that determines national technological competitiveness.

The ministry said a revised Nano Technology Development Promotion Act, which took effect in August last year, established a legal basis to designate certain nano fab operators as Public NanoFab Centers to serve as national nano infrastructure.

Designated organisations receive stable financial support through government contributions and special provisions for the use of public property. The ministry also plans to boost the use of dispersed nano infrastructure by establishing a basis to build and operate a NanoFab Integrated Information System that links information on nano research facilities, equipment and services nationwide.

The National NanoFab Center and the Korea Nano Technology Institute, designated as Public NanoFab Centers, will use their facilities and specialist staff to provide support for R&D, technology demonstration and links to commercialisation. They will also expand a joint-use system that allows industry, academia and research institutes to share facilities and equipment.

At the public-private meeting held after the plaque ceremony, Park presented on the role of the Public NanoFab and its development direction. Participants discussed advancing the shared-use system for Public NanoFab Centers, technical support to apply research results, industry-academia-research cooperation programmes and specialist workforce training, and ways to link infrastructure using the NanoFab Integrated Information System, Moafab.

Gu said, "The designation of Public NanoFab Centers is a starting point for the National NanoFab Center and the Korea Nano Technology Institute to be reborn as national nano infrastructure, based on achievements accumulated over the past 20-plus years." He added, "I hope the two organisations will develop into a core platform that supports securing national strategic technologies and strengthening industrial competitiveness through service innovation, beyond the shared use of facilities and equipment."