31 projects were selected for the first half of 2018 under the Future Technology Development Project, which is funded and supported by Samsung Electronics.

The 'Samsung Future Technology Development Project' is a program that started in 2013 to support the development of national future technologies by selecting projects three times a year in three research fields: basic science, materials technology, and ICT, and contributing a total of 1.5 trillion won over 10 years.

The fields selected this time include 10 in basic science, 10 in materials technology, and 11 in ICT, with 50.1 billion won in research funding to be provided over the next five years.

In particular, this supported project included new research on diseases that anyone can contract but are difficult to treat.

In the field of basic science, research related to dementia is supported amidst the difficulties in developing treatments for diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

Until now, it was known that if brain tissue is damaged due to aging or accidents, the nerve cells in that area are destroyed, causing memory to disappear.

However, Professor Jin-Hee Han of the Department of Biological Sciences at KAIST proved through mouse experiments that even when experiencing the same thing, memories are not stored in the same brain location but are dynamically rearranged.

It is expected that this principle will provide a new treatment method for dementia patients who are losing their memory due to the death of brain cells.

In the field of materials technology, support is provided for research such as the development of treatments for intractable cancers.

Professor Jang Su-hwan of Ulsan University Asan Medical Center [mentioned] that in the case of a small number of patients with intractable cancer, autoantibodies capable of killing cancer cells through various treatmentsIt was noted that cancer can be overcome by producing [it].

It is expected that discovering this autoantibody and developing a new anticancer drug will dramatically improve the survival rate of intractable cancers and contribute to public health.

Since starting support in August 2013, the Samsung Future Technology Development Project has selected a total of 414 projects, including this one, and is providing 523 billion won in research funding.

Meanwhile, in addition to the open call, Samsung Electronics also operates a 'Designated Theme Project Call' every year to identify future technology fields necessary for the nation and select and support research in those areas.

This year's designated themes were selected through recommendations from industry and academia as next-generation communication and convergence technologies, and next-generation sensor materials and devices.