National Nanotechnology Development Plan (South Korea)

South Korea's Nanotechnology Development Plan represents a nationally coordinated effort at strategic long-term development of nanoscience and technology with a goal of becoming one of the top three global leaders in the field by 2015. The idea of setting up a national plan for nanotechnology development was first proposed by then president Dae-jung Kim in December 2000, along with a series of meetings with government officials and experts as well as a public hearing in the following six months.

The resulting document, prepared by 12 ministries, including the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Industry and Resources, was approved as the National Nanotechnology [Page 586]Development Plan at the 8th Meeting of the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) on July 18, 2001. The plan set out to invest 1,485 billion won ($1.3 billion) in nanotechnology research and development (R&D) over the next 10 years. With the enactment of the Nanotechnology Promotion Act in 2002, the government is legally mandated to review and renew the plan every five years.

The plan has been implemented in two phases. The Phase-1 plan consisted of three stages (2001 to 2004, 2005 to 2007, and 2008 to 2010), with the primary goal of building key infrastructures and human resources for nanoscience and technology within five years, and developing at least 10 world-class technologies in this field. The Phase-2 plan, prepared by nine ministries, was approved at the 19th NSTC Meeting on December 13, 2005. The second phase partly overlaps with the first one, as the plan was revised after the initial five-year implementation.

With a budget of 4.7 billion won and cofunded by the government and the private sector for the implementation period of 2006 to 2015, this phase presents three visions: (1) becoming one of the top three world leaders in nanotechnology and industry by 2015; (2) taking a lead in the emerging technology market by aggressive integration with other cutting-edge technologies such as information technology, biotechnology, and energy/ environmental technologies; and (3) ensuring a safe and affluent society while enhancing the quality of life with nanotechnology. As a way to realize these visions, the Phase-2 plan laid down four objectives: (1) securing 30 top-class commercial-scale nanotechnologies; (2) consolidating investment in human resources and R&D infrastructures; (3) acquiring at least a 20 percent share of the global nanotechnology market by 2014; and (4) gearing nanotechnology development toward societal needs. Both phase plans contain detailed interministerial projects to realize these goals.