Government R&D investment is being expanded in the fields of quantum computing, semiconductors, supercomputing, and superconductivity, which are representative advanced strategic technologies that will determine future national competitiveness.

The Ministry of Science and ICT (Minister Lee Jong-ho) announced that it has finalized the implementation plan for the 2023 ICT source research and development projects worth 155.7 billion won and will proceed with the projects (17 projects) in earnest.

This is more than 1.7 times the amount of 90.4 billion won in 2022, of which 53 billion won is allocated to new projects (8).

The Ministry of Science and ICT plans to focus its support on securing core technological capabilities, fostering human resources, and expanding infrastructure to create a domestic ecosystem in response to the global competition for technological supremacy.

In the field of quantum computing, the plan is to accelerate the securing of core technologies by early demonstrating a 20-qubit quantum computer (12 billion won), which is the first phase goal of the 50-qubit quantum computer development and construction project (2022–2026) launched last year, and to stimulate the quantum industry by launching a quantum simulator for material development (7.6 billion won) and a quantum gain demonstration project (3.75 billion won) based on close public-private partnerships with the 'Quantum Computing Industry Leading Enterprise Alliance'.

In addition, following last year, Quantum Graduate School 1New facilities will be established (total of 2 centers, 2.8 billion KRW) to expand the scale of training top-tier quantum specialists, and EU regional cooperation hub centers and joint research centers by technology field (3 centers) will also be established and operated for strategic cooperation with the EU.

In the field of supercomputing, construction of the 6th national supercomputer will commence (18.4 billion won) to lay the foundation for a supercomputing ecosystem in preparation for the exascale era, and new development of source software technologies to support specialized utilization will also be pursued (1.8 billion won).

In the semiconductor sector, a new project (12 billion won) will be launched to provide design and verification opportunities to design major students by utilizing existing public sector fabs and linking them to computer systems, and a National Semiconductor Laboratory project (6.475 billion won) will also be newly promoted to solve corporate challenges and secure future source technologies through support for medium- and long-term intensive research.

In the field of superconductivity, continuous support (8.5 billion won) is provided for the research and development of core magnet technologies for four different shapes and common technologies for design and wires for insulated high-temperature superconducting technology capable of solving the challenges of existing technologies.

Koo Hyuk-chae, Director General of Basic and Original Research Policy at the Ministry of Science and ICT, stated, “In order to secure an advantage in core technologies that will determine national competitiveness in the era of global technological hegemony competition, we plan to expand investment in national strategic technologies such as quantum and semiconductors, while also strengthening the continuous exploration and active support of promising technologies.” He added, “We will strive to make this an effective policy through full-cycle support, including not only R&D investment but also strategic project management and the creation of results.”