South Korea’s National Science and Technology Advisory Council said on Wednesday it held the first PACST Science and Technology Forum with the Science and Technology Policy Institute (STEPI) at the Plaza Hotel in central Seoul.

The forum was set up to review the purpose and direction of national research and development over the past 60 years and to seek a future science and technology policy vision, amid an environment where competition for technology supremacy overlaps with social challenges.

Hong Sung-joo (홍성주), a senior research fellow at STEPI, delivered a keynote presentation titled "Historical paths of South Korea’s innovation ecosystem and future transition strategies". He reviewed national R&D development paths by period since liberation and proposed the future national science and technology vision and directions for transition based on an assessment of the science and technology innovation ecosystem.

A discussion followed, moderated by Lee Seok-bong (이석봉), CEO of Daedeoknet, with participants including Kim Keun-bae (김근배), a professor at Jeonbuk National University, Kim So-young (김소영), a professor at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), and Kwon Gi-seok (권기석), a professor at Hanbat National University. They discussed the basis for 추진 of national R&D, the need for support at the national level and redefining R&D outcomes.

The National Science and Technology Advisory Council will hold a total of four PACST science and technology forums through year-end, starting with this event.

It will continue discussions on Sept. 30 on R&D support methods, on Nov. 4 on redefining R&D outcomes, and on Dec. 16 on a sustainable research environment.

Lee Kyung-soo (이경수), vice chair of the National Science and Technology Advisory Council, said it is time to review the purpose and direction of national R&D from the ground up as the environment surrounding national R&D changes rapidly. He said he hopes the forum will serve as a catalyst for exploring ways for national R&D to deliver meaningful outcomes.