'Good Morning, Science' to be held monthly, creating a regular exchange channel between foreign missions and government research institutes

NST Chairman Kim Young-sik delivers opening remarks at the inaugural "Good Morning, Science" event held Wednesday. [NST]
NST Chairman Kim Young-sik delivers opening remarks at the inaugural "Good Morning, Science" event held Wednesday. [NST]

A regular cooperation platform designed to connect South Korea's government-funded research institutes with foreign diplomatic missions and identify opportunities for joint research and scientific collaboration has been officially launched.

The National Research Council of Science and Technology, known as NST, said it held the inaugural "Good Morning, Science" event Wednesday at the Four Seasons Hotel in Seoul, co-organized with the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute and attended by science and technology officials from foreign missions in South Korea.

The "Good Morning, Science" series was established to promote South Korea's science and technology policies and research achievements abroad and to build a standing cooperation network between foreign missions and government-funded research institutes. The core aim is to move beyond one-off exchanges by meeting monthly to match each country's cooperation needs with the research capabilities of the institutes.

About 60 people attended Wednesday's event, including NST Chairman Kim Young-sik, Ministry of Science and ICT Director General for International Cooperation Hwang Sung-hoon, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute Nuclear Safety Infrastructure Research Division Director Choi Ki-yong, and science and technology officials from foreign missions in South Korea.

The first topic on the cooperation agenda was "Future Nuclear Energy in the AI Era." The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute presented the current state of domestic nuclear research and development and introduced small modular reactor technology under the theme "Future Nuclear Energy in the AI Era: Focusing on Small Modular Reactors."

Choi Ki-yong, director of the Nuclear Safety Infrastructure Research Division at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, delivers a presentation at the "Good Morning, Science" event. [NST]
Choi Ki-yong, director of the Nuclear Safety Infrastructure Research Division at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, delivers a presentation at the "Good Morning, Science" event. [NST]

Participants also shared updates on international cooperation in the nuclear field, including a ministerial conference co-hosted by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the International Atomic Energy Agency in Songdo, Incheon, from Oct. 26 to 29. Attendees discussed prospects for future collaboration, including joint research, through expert briefings and open discussion.

"I hope 'Good Morning, Science' will become a forum where foreign missions and government-funded research institutes meet regularly to share areas of mutual interest and explore new possibilities for cooperation," NST Chairman Kim said. "NST will also strengthen its role as a bridge connecting the research institutes with the scientific communities of other countries."

Hwang said science and technology is increasingly taking center stage in bilateral and multilateral discussions between countries. "I hope this event will serve as a platform for introducing South Korea's science and technology and identifying new cooperation opportunities," he said.

NST plans to hold "Good Morning, Science" every month, sharing major research achievements from the institutes and updates on international cooperation with foreign diplomatic missions. The second event is scheduled for Nov. 12 at the Korea Science and Technology Hall, co-organized with the Korea Institute of Science and Technology.


nbgkoo@heraldcorp.com