Korea Institute of Materials Science(KIMS), a government-funded research institute under the Ministry of Science & ICT, released the ‘Material Technology White Paper 2022.’This Material Technology White Paper released by the KIMS is the only white paper on material technology in Korea that summarizes information on material technology systemically on social issues of the corresponding year with the attendance of experts on the issues. Since its first publication in 2009, the White Paper has been released continuously. This year marks the 14th anniversary of the release of its first edition.

The theme of the White Paper this year is ‘National Strategic Material Technology.’ In the recent era of fierce competition for global technological hegemony, many nations have rushed to enhance national capabilities by selecting their own strategic technologies. It means that nurturing national strategic technology which will lead to future growth and securing technology sovereignty has become a growing necessity. Therefore, it is critical to develop material technology to keep up with global trends.

With its focus on strategic material technologies, KIMS produced the‘Material Technology White Paper 2022. For this, KIMS conducted in-depth interviews of experts to select fields of 11 national strategic technologies and those of 14 material technologies. They are categorized as follows. △ Semi-conductors/Displays, △ Secondary cells, △ Leading-edge mobility, △ Next-generation nuclear energy, △ Leading-edge biotechnology, △ Space and Aviation Technology, △ Hydrogen, △ Artificial Intelligence, △ Next-generation communication, △ Leading-edge Robotics and Manufacturing Technology, and △ Quantum technology. The Paper contains an overview of each specific technology, a trend in research development, and future directions.

Jung-Hwan Lee, President of KIMS, said that “In recognition of the importance of national strategic material technology, the Korean government had already established ways of nurturing 10 nations selected critical and emerging technologies and 12 national strategic technologies efforts to fully develop national strategic material technology.”He also added that “It is my sincere wish that this White Paper will make its share of contribution to paving the way for development in the future as nurturing national strategic technology would lead the direction for development in the future.”

Those interested in the ‘Material Technology While Paper 2022’ can download the Paper on the official site of the KIMS, (www.kims.re.kr) free of charge. The White Paper has been also released in book form.