Science Ministry bets big on quantum technology, space and AI

The Ministry of Science and ICT will invest a total of 3 trillion won ($2.3 billion) in quantum technology by 2035, calling the technology and its related industries a potential game changer along with space and artificial intelligence. The...

Science Minister Lee Jong-ho, right, speaks at a local forum at Jung District, central Seoul on Tuesday. [SCIENCE MINISTRY]

The Ministry of Science and ICT will invest a total of 3 trillion won ($2.3 billion) in quantum technology by 2035, calling the technology and its related industries a potential game changer along with space and artificial intelligence.

The Science Ministry will also cultivate up to to 2,500 skilled personnel in quantum-related industries by that year, a considerable increase from the current 384 personnel.

“Currently, problems that would take millions of years to solve with supercomputers can be solved within a few a few hundred seconds using a quantum computer,” said Science Minister Lee Jong-ho at a press event in Jung District, central Seoul, on Tuesday. “Quantum cryptography can prevent information theft entirely, enabling secure financial transactions and remote healthcare. The ultra-precise quantum sensors will be able to detect everything, from earthquakes to stealth aircraft.”

Lee also emphasized the successful launch of the homegrown Nuri rocket in May and government plans to develop a next-generation, homegrown launch vehicle in 2032.

An independent space headquarter to continuously develop related policies, dubbed the “Korea Aerospace Agency,” will be established within the year.

“It’s important to note that we have progressed rapidly in a compressed period of time,” Lee said. “It’s crucial that we acquire related technologies for Korean space industry to progress globally and independently. More and more private companies will enter the industry now, and we can utilize the information we acquire from successfully-launched satellites and format them to use in various business sectors.”

The ministry will also strive forward to expand the talent pool for AI industry. Domestically, the AI market has been booming with domestic tech companies scrambling to release their own hyper-scale AI, fueled by OpenAI’s ChatGPT earlier this year.

“We will diversify the number of benefits, subsidies and scholarships to lure more students to science and technology, including providing opportunities for them to study overseas,” Lee said, although specific policies are yet to be announced.

“It is essential Korea becomes a leader in the market among other global competitors,” said Yul Uhm, Science Ministry’s head of artificial intelligence policy bureau. “Domestic policies related to AI are in the making. We plan to establish a credible set of guidelines so that AI becomes socially accepted and trusted among consumers. There may be problems related to data we use to train AI in terms of breaches of private information and security, but there are considerable instances where we don’t need private information to train them. We’re preparing various ways to avoid such problems and feed AI with superior data for training.”

BY LEE JAE-LIM [lee.jaelim@joongang.co.kr]