At the discussion that day, Song Jin-dong, head of the Optoelectronic Materials Research Group at the Next-Generation Semiconductor Research Institute of the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) , presented a session on the role of basic science in the era of competition for semiconductor hegemony. He mentioned diamond and neuromorphic materials, which are emerging as next-generation semiconductor materials along with the emergence of compound semiconductors such as silicon carbide and gallium oxide, and described semiconductors as “a lump of materials engineering and chemical engineering.”

He said, “Silicon substrates are a product of materials engineering, and as the applications required for semiconductors diversify, the market need for new materials increases,” and mentioned that silicon materials will reach their limits in extreme semiconductors.

The main issues surrounding semiconductors are the limits of miniaturization, and it is predicted that three types of innovations will need to be established from basic science: new models such as quantum computing and neuromorphic computing; new materials such as nanomaterials and spintronics; and new structures such as optical connections and three-dimensional connections.

CEO Song mentioned the development process of transistors and EUV, and said that when a technology first comes out, it tends to be unstable and underestimated, but he quoted Michael Faraday's answer to "What good is a newborn baby?" and pointed out that "discovering its usefulness takes time."

Professor Lim Hyeon-sik of Dongguk University's Department of Physics and Semiconductor Sciences delivered a presentation on quantum technology and industry trends and their importance through a quantum industry and basic science presentation. Recently, quantum technology has shown remarkable performance advancements, and investments in the field of quantum computers are increasing.

As qubit technology using superconducting elements is considered a leading technology in the quantum industry, leading companies such as IBM, D-Wave, Microsoft, and Intel are known to be preparing to dominate the market by competitively securing original technologies.

Professor Lim explained, “Advanced countries’ quantum technology development strategies are government-led R&D policies,” and “Korea also included the quantum industry in the 12 national strategic technologies announced last year and has embarked on a construction project aimed at developing a Korean-style quantum computer with hundreds of qubits by 2030.”

In the development of such quantum technologies, the key task is to “improve qubit performance so that we can reduce computational and communication errors caused by ‘noise,’” he added, adding that “the solution to the noise problem lies in the development of error correction algorithms that can correct qubit errors.” He also mentioned that quantum sensing also requires sophisticated calibration, and that low cost, small size, and power efficiency must all be addressed together.

The council stated that a balanced human resource development strategy in basic science and engineering is essential for the development of the quantum industry, including semiconductors, and requested that this be accompanied by support for related R&D, as well as industrial promotion policies and the operation of talent development programs.

Meanwhile, the Basic Science Academic Societies Council consists of a total of six participating societies: four single societies: the Korean Mathematical Society (President Park Jong-il), the Korean Physical Society (President Hong Seok-ryun), the Korean Chemical Society (President Shin Seok-min), and the Korean Statistical Society (President Kim Dong-wook), and two combined societies: the Korean Earth Science Association (President Shin Dong-hee) and the Korean Biological Sciences Association (President Jeong Gyu-yeong).

We are contributing to the strengthening of national competitiveness and joint development of academic societies through cooperation in policies to strengthen mathematics and science education and cooperation and mutual exchange in policies to promote basic science research.