R&D Korea 2014, which took place at the EXCO in Daegu from Nov. 11 to 13, served as an opportunity to enhance public awareness of the outcomes of R&D tasks by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) and to share business information through technology exchanges among industry, academia and research circles.
R&D Korea 2014, hosted by Korea Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology (KEIT), kicked off its three-day run at the EXCO on Nov. 11. Among roughly 500 people on hand at a ceremony to open the exhibition were Deputy Minister Hwang Kyu-yeon, of the Office of Industrial Creativity and Innovation at the MOTIE, Daegu Mayor Kwon Young-jin and Rep. Hong Ji-man.
Prior to the opening ceremony, KEIT held an event to celebrate the opening of its new building in Daegu.
The exhibition featured some 1,200 technologies, including major success stories of the MOTIE-initiated projects that199 R&D research institutions have carried out. It was divided into four display zones -- People’s Happiness Zone, Creativity & Force Zone, Future Convergence Zone and Innovation & Growth Zone. The People’s Happiness Zone showcased R&D applications made available for everyday life, while the Creativity & Force Zone displayed eco-friendly R&D research outcomes. The Future Convergence Zone featured R&D results through convergence, while the Innovation & Growth Zone showed off the future’s expected technologies.
Among the eye-catching technologies and products of note are the world’s first 18-inch flexible/transparent display; artificial joints tailored to meet patients’ needs, commercialized in Korea for the first time; a device related to vehicle maintenance such as remote control and diagnosis of breakdowns via smartphone; and a system designed to prevent traffic accidents by sending signals to motorists and pedestrians, a carbon capture technology designed to collect CO2 from thermal power plants.
True to the theme “R&D Meets Business,” the exhibition coincided with diverse side events designed to translate the government-initiated research outcomes into commercialized products and services.
The R2B (R&D to Business) Conference took place to facilitate commercialization and expand investments.
Korea Venture Capital Association, Korea Core Industrial Technology Investment Association, Korea Technology Finance Corp., and other technology commercialization support institutions joined forces in organizing the Business Talk Convert to convey information on commercialization and investments to companies.
Robotis President Kim Byoung-soo, ENOMAD President Park Hye-lin, and Communication Woody President Ka Myeon-jung appeared at the R&D Communication & Sympathy Concert on Nov. 12. They presented their corporate success stories at the event, emceed by gagman Suh Kyung-suk. Robotis is a robotics company that has made strides with $5 million exports. ENOMAD is a portable water-powered generator provider. Communication Woody, which ranked third in the “World Social Enterprise Contest,” is well known as a company taking the initiative in public campaigns.
The 8th Tech-Mania Festival, designed to promote exchanges among technicians and square off over their capacity in a fair manner, attracted tech-savvy manias from across the nation.
Visitors at the event were given an opportunity to watch such exciting games as humanoid robots’ fighting, dance and marathon competitions and Taekwondo matches between humans and humanoid robots.
R&D Korea 2014 was designed not only to promote technology-related businesses among business people, but also to entertain participants, a KEIT official said.
It is the first time R&D Korea 2014 took place in Daegu, a provincial city, rather than a metropolitan area, since KEIT was relocated there.
Deagu’s hosting of the exhibition will be seen as a good example of relocated public enterprises’ settlement in new sites, MOTIE said.
The Daegu Metropolitan City Government, the co-host, said the exhibition aimed at attracting investments into the Daegu National Industrial Complex and other industrial complexes and publicizing the city’s R&D infrastructure and research outcomes to the exhibitors.
MOTIE Deputy Minister Hwang said his ministry plans to push for a scheme to secure the momentum of the creative economy through industrial technology R&D and to aggressively nurture future winners. He also expressed hope that R&D Korea 2014 will serve as a milestone to link R&D outcomes with commercialization.
KEIT’s Ushering in Deagu Era
KEIT held a ceremony to open its new building at its new site in Daegu on Nov. 11. In celebration of ushering in the so-called Daegu Era, the corporation kicked off R&D Korea 2014 at BEXCO.
Among some 300 people on hand at the ceremony were MOTIE Deputy Minister Hwang; Director General Chung Seung-hee in charge of planning at the Public Agencies Relocation Office of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport; Rep. Yoo Seung-min; Daegu Vice Mayor Kim Yeon-chang; and Gyeongsangbuk-do Vice Gov. Lee In-sun.
In the event commemorating the relocation, KEIT declared “KEIT Vision 2020” anew and presented prizes to persons recognized for their excellent jobs. KEIT executives and staff members pledged to rise to a global R&D support leader playing a leading role in the development of world’s best industrial technology in 2020.
KEIT’s new headquarter building was dedicated on Aug. 29, 2014 about one and half years after it held a ground-breaking ceremony. The five-story structure with one basement floor is designed as an energy-conserving building outfitted with photovoltaic power facilities and LED lighting.
“Ushering in the Daegu Era will serve as a world’s best R&D support institution,” said KEIT President Lee. “KEIT will devote itself to contributing to making Daegu a global knowledge-based free economic zone.”
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