NIPA Inaugurated as ‘IT Hub Institution’

Former Korea Post President Jung takes office as first president of the new entity

The National IT Industry Promotion Agency (NIPA) has been inaugurated as a professional institution to back up the government’s two major policies on the information technology industry ― IT convergence and the green growth paradigm.
The Institute for Information Technology Advancement (IITA), the Korea IT Industry Promotion Agency (KIPA) and the Korea Institute for Electronic Commerce were merged to create NIPA in accordance with the government’s plan to advance public enterprises to advanced levels as well as steps to meet industrial trends of convergence and the need to build the infrastructure of the IT industry.
Jung Gyeong-won, former president of Korea Post, took the helm at the newly inaugurated institution on Sept. 24. NIPA has a head office with two headquarters, eight corps, 29 teams and two affiliated organizations ― the Software Engineering Center and the RFID/USN Center.
NIPA, with a 300-member staff and a budget of 800 billion won, is charged with such responsibilities as the sophistication of the IT industry, the consolidation of the IT industry and conventional industrial fields, the expansion of IT infrastructure and the nurturing of the software industry.
The Ministry of Knowledge Economy inaugurated NIPA, restructuring its operations into one focusing on key essential functions. It has also massively axed support manpower to enhance the efficiency of the integrated institution and has introduced a team system.
Upon his inauguration, New NIPA CEO Jung stressed his willingness to reposition the agency as an institution playing a bridge between the government and business and serving as a force behind the development of the IT industry. He made the point saying, “An apparent gap that has so far existed between the government, who come up with policies, and the industrial field, who must accept them, has been blamed for getting in the way of the development of the IT industry.”
“The three institutions have different roles in detail, yet have in common being placed under the umbrella of the IT industry, so the integration of the three entities can bring about synergetic effects through complementing each other,” he said.
Jung said he will devote himself to creating an environment in which organizations with different histories and cultures can be assimilated and employees can feel a sense of communal relationship. He said he set his sights on making NIPA a world-class information communication institution.
“These days, convergence and green growth becomes the subject of talk. These are based on information technology, so grafting IT into shipbuilding, automobile manufacturing and other manufacturing fields is likely to serve as a force behind the growth of all industrial circles,” he said.
He emphasized the significant role of NIPA in repositioning Korea as an IT powerhouse despite the burst of the IT bubble and some allegations about the IT field hitting the wall.
He noted that only the IT industry, contributing greatly to increasing exports and creating jobs, can create new growth engines for national development.
“The software industry will be invigorated through the creation of needs from the public and private sectors and efforts will be made to create an environment recognizing the value of software,” he said. nw

Dignitaries, including Minister of Knowledge Economy Lee Youn-ho and NIPA President Jung Gyeong-won, shake hands at a ceremony to inaugurate the National IT Industry Promotion Agency (NIPA) at a conference room of the NIPA headquarters in Seoul on Aug. 24.