ISTK Overhauls R&D for GRIs in Industrial Technology Field

Unveils a plan on the direction of governance and restructuring of GRIs by the end of August

This article covers excerpts of an interview between NewsWorld and Dr. Han Uk, Chairman of the Korea Research Council for Industrial Science and Technology (ISTK), who touched future development direction of Government-funded Research Institutes (GRIs) and relevant research policies.
Question: Will you introduce ISTK to our readers?
Answer: Korea Research Council for Industrial Science and Technology (ISTK) was established to support national research policies and contribute to the development of knowledge-based industry by fostering and managing the Government-funded Research Institutes (GRIs) efficiently in accordance with the Act on the Establishment, Management and Promotion of GRIs promulgated in January 1999.
ISTK, which was once affiliated with the Prime Minister's Office and the Ministry of Science and Technology, is now supported by the Ministry of Knowledge Economy (MKE). Under the policy of MKE, it is expected to establish close relationship between the research results in the field of industrial science and technology and industrial economy. For this, ISTK is devoting to contribute to the national economy development through the improvement of S&T applicability and efficiency especially by supporting, fostering and assessing 13 GRIs in the industrial technological fields including the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) and the Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER). Other member research institutes of ISTK are KITECH, NSRI, KICT, KRRI, KFRI, KIGAM, KIMM, KIMS, KERI, KRICT, and KIT.
Q: One year has been passed since you took office as ISTK Chairman. Will you tell us the achievements you have made so far?
A: GRIs were established 40 years ago and their budgets for R&D activities have been increased. However, they do not seem to adapt themselves to the new technological environment unlike the other stakeholders from private sector and academia. ISTK accordingly encourages self-innovation, "Change and Ethical Health," to liven up the GRI's research activities. In other words, ISTK has is striving to encourage GRIs to decide and implement the research projects selectively in purpose of leading to efficient management as well as high-quality research results. And ISTK also pursues ethical health by executing R&D budget in a transparent, legal and responsible way.
Moreover, ISTK asks GRIs to plans and develop future research projects more extensively than before so that they will be able to drive their force to carry out projects with social responsibility which is required to settle down current national issues such as economic crisis and green growth. For this, ISTK seeks for efficient ways and develops a variety of channels to hear voices from national stakeholders. The International Symposium entitled "Green Technology: Facts and Fantasy"in celebration of the 10th Anniversary of ISTK in March and Green-tech Innovation Forum are the examples which are used as occasions to exchange and share common views among the participants. And these views are included in the research projects.
Besides, ISTK is in the course of implementing "CORE Project" to develop the most appropriate and ideal governance structure. Through this, ISTK promotes to evolve into the world-class research institutes by securing next-generation growth engines as well as developing visions and strategies of GRIs. The project is to be completed by the end of this year, and then the framework is expected to be unveiled.
CORE Project is named after the initials of the following catchphrases "Change" for shifting the conventional paradigm to a new one, "Optimize" for optimizing rational systems of ISTK and GRIs , "Revitalize" for giving a new vigor and life toward dreams and hope, and "Excellency" for pursuing world's highest researches.
Q: I understand that the Green Tech Innovator Forum has been already inaugurated and is in operation. Will you tell us about the recent activities and future plans of the Forum?
A: As climate change and exhaustion of natural resources are now widely recognized as critical global problems, energy and environmental issues are emerged as major factors determining national economy future. Declaring "Low-carbon, Green Growth"as a new national development paradigm, the Korean government proposed vision accordingly to secure new growth engines and create jobs. However, this was not discussed thoroughly, failing to convey its exact definition while causing confusions among the people.
Green technologies, the essential base for the green industry, are of the ultimate and green growth starts from raising the understanding of green technology. In this regard, ISTK established Green Tech Innovator Forum to provide assistance to the development of the governmental national green growth strategies and to suggest direction of the researches on green growth to its 13 member research institutes.
Twenty seven opinion leaders from government, university, GRIs and industry representatives- prominent leaders in the creative area of art, the discovery field of science and the technology sector in the middle of creation and discovery ― were appointed as "Innovators" of this Forum to collect and hear various voices. The Forum was held twice ― on May 28 and July 8.
The following issues were discussed during the Forum: 1) Increase the awareness of the green growth paradigm through various presentations and free discussion 2) Establish green growth policies and promote efficient implementation by forming network between relevant experts and government 3) Discuss various ways on how to develop multi-interdisciplinary research projects for green growth policies.
By steering this Forum, ISTK is under consideration of exploring agendas which are to lead government's green growth policies successfully and developing relevant research projects. And ISTK is also trying to raise the understanding of green growth and strengthen relevant network.















Q: As for the CORE Project you mentioned, please tell us more details.
A: ISTK has launched the CORE Project in 2009 to develop the most appropriate and ideal governance structure. Through this, ISTK promotes to evolve into the world-class research institutes by reviewing them in the aspect of governance.
This project indicates ISTK? goals ― Revitalizing researches by Changing scientists and technology experts and Optimizing research institutes in order to pursue the world? highest research Excellency.
Arthur D. Little (ADL) was selected to carry out this project. "Industry Technology GRIs Development Committee" was established to review governance roadmaps and discuss it with GRIs. And a working-level team to develop and implement governance alternatives was also created.
The direction of governance and the restructuring of GRIs will come out by the end of August, and its implementation plan is scheduled to be completed by the end of this year. A social consensus on governance proposals is expected to be reached by 2010, and then a new government scheme will be implemented in 2011.
Q: What do you expect scientists and technology experts to do?
A: In a knowledge-based society, science and technology are served as essential drive forces deciding success or failure of each nation than ever before. The R&D activities carried out by yourself have become the most significant core growth engines. In this respect, ISTK and GRIs are playing significant roles in national development.
ISTK is always where it is. We are striving to deal with problems in every scientific and technological field, every administrative hurdle. ISTK makes its utmost efforts to explore research projects with a positive mindset, departing from the past conservative support scheme and operation-oriented management as well as aggressively reforming various restrictions and regulations and improving the research environment. ISTK is pulling out all the stops to help GRIs create demand-oriented research results by securing more remarkable research capabilities and reforming GRIs into world-class institutes through resilient adaptation to the global environment changes.
I recommend you and GRIs carry out research activities bearing in mind that you are the key leaders of national development. With the mind of considering themselves as main characters in the field of industrial science and technology, not only GRIs but also Korea will be developed further.
ISTK is making devotion to evolve into a specialized research institute enhancing national status in scientific and technological field so that people's incomes and the quality of their lives could be improved. We spare no efforts to provide policy support to GRIS so that science and technology can create national wealth.
Lastly, I encourage scientists and technology experts to undertake their missions with a renewed sense of responsibility and urgency. ISTK will strive to make scientists and technology experts respected and honored. nw

ISTK Chairman Han Uk

ISTK Chairman Han holding an interview with NewsWorld Publisher-President Elizabeth M. Oh and Managing Editor Kim Soo-young.