South Korea and Israel have launched the "Korea-Israel Lighthouse Program," which supports large-scale joint technology development between the two countries, and will jointly invest $5.3 million in the robotics field.

On the 12th (local time), the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Israel Innovation Authority jointly held the 'Korea-Israel Lighthouse Program Launch Conference' in Tel Aviv, Israel, with representatives from industry, academia and research institutions from both countries in attendance, and announced an expanded technological cooperation program between the two countries.

Starting with the robotics sector (△logistics △agricultural and livestock industry △personal services △healthcare) this year, it is planned to expand to strategic industries of both countries such as autonomous vehicles and hydrogen. The support method will be operated as a '2+2 industry-academia-research cooperation project' in which one company and one university or research institute from each country must participate, rather than the existing 1:1 matching method between companies from both countries, and the support amount can be up to 5.3 million dollars.

▲ Comparison of the Lighthouse Program and Existing Korea-Israel R&D Programs

The Lighthouse Program is a new mid- to large-scale joint R&D cooperation project that was planned in response to the revision of the Korea-Israel Industrial Technology Cooperation Treaty last year, which expanded the annual joint technology development fund contributed by both countries from $2 million to $4 million.

The main revisions include: △increasing the amount of fund contribution (from 2 million USD to 4 million USD per year for each country); △increasing the government support ratio for joint R&D projects; and △expanding the scope of fund support from joint R&D support to indirect activities such as personnel exchange.

Noh Geon-gi, Director General of the Industrial Technology Convergence Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, said, “The Lighthouse Program will serve as an opportunity to illuminate new industrial technology paths for both countries and accelerate innovation, as the program aims to do,” and emphasized, “Going forward, the governments of both countries will continue to provide maximum support for private R&D innovation.”

Meanwhile, the 2022 Korea-Israel Lighthouse Program will be announced in April, and further details can be found on the Korea-Israel Industrial Research and Development Foundation (www.koril.org).