Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning Hold Business Briefing and Technology Exchange Meeting
Project execution for identifying promising commercialization projects in the field of nano-convergence

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning held a 2017 business briefing and industry-academia-research technology exchange meeting for the 'Nano Convergence 2020 Project,' which is being jointly implemented by both ministries, at POSCO P&S Tower (located in Gangnam, Seoul) on the 11th (Wed).

The Nano Convergence 2020 project is a program that supports commercialization by connecting nanotechnology patents held by research institutes and universities with new product ideas from companies.

The event, attended by about 100 people including officials from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning, and industry, academia, and research institutes, proceeded with explanations of new projects for 2017 and presentations of patented technologies held by research institutions and universities.


▲Screenshot of promotional material from the Nano-Convergence Technology Institute.

At the business briefing, the Nano Convergence 2020 Project Group (Director Park Jong-gu) introduced the overall business, including matters that companies wishing to participate in new projects in 2017 should consider, the rights and responsibilities of commercialization companies, and the group's plan to provide technical consulting.

At the 7th Industry-Academic-Research Exchange Meeting held this year, 23 outstanding research achievements held by research institutions and universities were presented, and the achievements introduced on this day are planned to be linked as new projects for companies interested in commercialization.

3.5 billion won in support this year for projects capable of commercialization within 3 years

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning will invest 20.2 billion won this year in the 'Nano Convergence 2020 Project' to expand the existing Nano Technology-Information Technology (NT-IT) and Nano Technology-Environmental Engineering Technology (Along with the NT-ET convergence field, the commercialization of research and development achievements in the nanotechnology-biotechnology (NT-BT) convergence field will also be actively pursued starting this year. Through this open call, the two ministries plan to select projects capable of commercialization within three years as new initiatives and provide a budget of approximately 3.5 billion won this year.

Kim Dong-ju, Head of the Bio-Nano Division at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, stated, “The Nano Convergence 2020 project has achieved significant results, including generating approximately 270 billion won in sales within four years of its launch, and is expected to establish itself as a leading project that spearheads the creation of a market for nano-convergence products in the future.”

Choi Mi-jeong, Head of the Convergence Technology Division at the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning, said, “The Nano Convergence 2020 project is a good model for overcoming the reality where excellent research results are not commercialized early, completing the entire cycle of research and development, and enhancing the efficiency of research and development.”