{"id":2204542,"date":"2024-04-04T15:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-04-04T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?p=2204542"},"modified":"2024-04-05T09:50:27","modified_gmt":"2024-04-05T00:50:27","slug":"south-koreas-tech-ambitions-at-risk-from-governments-rd-budget-whiplash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2024\/04\/south-koreas-tech-ambitions-at-risk-from-governments-rd-budget-whiplash\/","title":{"rendered":"South Korea\u2019s tech ambitions at risk from government\u2019s R&D budget whiplash"},"content":{"rendered":"
The Yoon administration\u2019s <\/span>decision to cut<\/span><\/a> the country\u2019s research and development (R&D) budget for 2024 by 15% from the previous year sparked intense backlash from the research community, raising concerns about South Korea\u2019s ability to maintain its competitive edge in the global technology market.<\/span><\/p>\n The initiative was met with intense criticism, as exemplified by a recent incident at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). During a graduation ceremony, a student <\/span>protested<\/span><\/a> against the budget cut while President Yoon Suk-yeol delivered his speech.<\/span><\/p>\n INTENSIFYING GLOBAL COMPETITION<\/b><\/p>\n The semiconductor industry has become increasingly crucial in the modern global society, with far-reaching applications across sectors such as communication, transportation, healthcare and clean energy. The recent acceleration of artificial intelligence (AI) development has further increased the demand for semiconductors, making them a key component in electronic devices.<\/span><\/p>\n The U.S. and Taiwan, two of South Korea\u2019s main competitors in the technology market, have made significant investments in the semiconductor industry.<\/span><\/p>\n Reuters<\/span><\/i> reported<\/span><\/a> that U.S. President Joe Biden is in talks to provide subsidies exceeding $10 billion to Intel to boost its semiconductor development. Additionally, the U.S. government has been closely collaborating with Nvidia to support chip production capabilities by strengthening and reshoring supply chains.<\/span><\/p>\n Meanwhile, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the world\u2019s largest chipmaker, recently <\/span>opened<\/span><\/a> a new chip fabrication plant in Japan to diversify its semiconductor supply chain.<\/span><\/p>\n With support from the Japanese government, TSMC has expanded its capacity to meet rising customer demands while Japan seeks to gain a foothold in the semiconductor industry. TSMC also announced plans to build a second plant in Japan, set to begin operation by 2027, demonstrating its long-term commitment to the initiative.<\/span><\/p>\n In this context, South Korea faces the need to remain competitive in the global semiconductor market. The country\u2019s position as a leader in the industry is critical to its economic growth and technological advancement.<\/span><\/p>\n South President Yoon Suk-yeol attends the launch event of the Korea Space Industry Cluster, March 13, 2024 | Image: ROK Presidential Office<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n BUDGET CUT IMPACT<\/b><\/p>\n As South Korea\u2019s global rivals make aggressive investments in the industry, the Yoon administration\u2019s R&D budget cuts put the country at risk of falling behind in the competitive market, and researchers have already begun to feel the impact of the budget cut.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cSome projects have been terminated early; projects that should have lasted four or five years ended after only two. Overall, there have been obstacles to gaining access to research funds or purchasing research materials,\u201d Lee Dong Hyun, a KAIST researcher specializing in integrated circuit layouts, told <\/span>Korea Pro<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n Lee further explained that chip production costs can vary significantly, making it difficult for laboratories to allocate resources for independent research. \u201cIf projects are terminated and resources are reduced, undertaking the research becomes difficult and impacts individual careers,\u201d he added.<\/span><\/p>\n The reduction in resources and the resulting termination of projects have negatively affected researcher morale, according to Lee, particularly among young and early-career researchers who appear more vulnerable to this risk.<\/span><\/p>\n Moreover, the budget cut may lead to a potential loss of diversity in research projects. As laboratories struggle to secure funding and resources, they may be forced to prioritize projects with immediate commercial viability over more exploratory or long-term research. This could hinder the development of innovative technologies and limit South Korea\u2019s ability to stay ahead of the curve in the rapidly evolving semiconductor industry.<\/span><\/p>\n POOR COMMUNICATION<\/b><\/p>\n