3RD MEETING TO PROMOTE BIG3
Government to Work on
Advancing Self-Driving Technology
and Human Resources in System Semiconductor sector
Deputy Prime Minister Hong Nam-ki presided over the 3rd Meeting to Promote BIG3, a subsidiary committee of the Industrial Innovation Meeting, held on January 21. Plans to provide support for advancing autonomy level for self-driving vehicles, developing qualified human resources in system semiconductor sector, and speeding up the process of new bio-medical product development are the main topics of discussion.
The following is a summary of Deputy Prime Minister Hong’s keynote address.
Advance autonomy level for self-driving vehicles
As level 3 self-driving vehicles are available in the global market, the government plans to provide support to develop level 4 vehicles
- Provide support for developing core technology and software for Level 4 vehicles and work to localize 9 core parts that are critical for level 3 autonomous vehicle functions
- Provide infrastructures, such as testbed, to carry out performance test for cars with level 4 autonomy and above
- Share and utilize data: Provide AI training data and source data through AI hub
- Provide test operating centers in 6 cities for people to experience rotating shuttle bus, robot taxi, and airport pick up etc. Also develop public services utilizing the experience.
Develop qualified human resources in system semiconductor sector
The government announced back in April 2019 plans to train 17,000 people in system semiconductor sector by 2030. More specific plans will be discussed to provide 3,638 workers through 2021 and 2022.
- Undergraduates: Launch a new major in 13 universities which can help students plan out their careers in fabless manufacturing. Extend number of programs that will lead directly to employment in corporates after graduation.
- Graduate/doctorates: Aim to cultivate around 1,000 core talents with graduate/doctorate degree through 2021 and 2022. Also the government plans to cooperate closely with corporates to develop new technologies while cultivating highly talented workers and extending employment opportunities at the same time.
Speed up the process for new bio-medical product development
The government’s main goal is to develop, approve, and come up with new bio-medical products in a prompt manner.
- Integrate R&D projects[1] and encourage integration within government bodies and promote participation of companies.
- Develop a process that studies compatibility and quality assurance from the planning stage to speed up development and improve productivity
- Carry out the screening process from the development stage for medical products for crisis response. Provide institutional support to simplify the approval process, and work on new ways to improve approval process such as giving conditional approvals etc.
- Build 32 new smart factories for pharmaceutical industry and establish an agency specialized in quality control of vaccines in July.
[1] Plan to spend 3.97 trillion won on new drug, regenerative medicine, and medical device