Deputy Minister Park Kun-soo of the Industrial Policy Office at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy speaks at the Korea Tech Show 2018 at COEX. (Photos: MOTIE)

The Korea Tech Show 2018 served as an opportunity to share the outcomes of R&D projects financed by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE). Industry, academia and researchers participated in the show, which coincided with conferences and forums such as the 2018 AI for Industries Conference and the 2018 Korea-Israel Industrial Collaboration Conference, as well as many side events.

The exhibition showcased futuristic technologies such as VR gadgets and sensors that can automatically operate devices in self-driving cars, and a technology to control multiple drones without a local area network. Spectators were thrilled to wear VR gadgets and maneuver a drone in person.

The show, titled “Industrial R&D for Your Tomorrow,” was held at COEX in Samseong-dong, Seoul, from Oct. 5 to 7.
The exhibition was hosted by the MOTIE and organized by three R&D institutions: the Korea Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology (KEIT), the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (KETEP), and the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT).

Among the eye-catching new technologies and new products at the New Industry Pavilion were a bio-degradable cardiovascular blood stent with no side effects, a personal health record-based health management system for “digital personal doctor’s care,” and a superlight Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) censor module.

Spectators at the New Industry Pavilion were given the chance to look at new technologies in the “new industry” areas developed by government-financed R&D projects and companies.

Participants of the Korea Tech Show 2018 and 2018 Technology Awards winners, including Chairman and President Seong Si-heon of the Korea Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology (KEIT), gesture for a group photo session at the exhibition.

The Experience Zone was a space in which spectators experienced technologies related to the 4th Industrial Revolution.

The Special Pavilion accommodated diverse competitions such an embedded software competition, college students’ new industry convergence idea competition, and a job fair festival.

The Pavilion on 30 Years of Korea Industry Technology R&D featured the direction of the MOTIE’s policies on industrial development, including the display of excellent technologies.

Twenty-two people were honored with government orders and other prizes in recognition of their contribution to the development of the national economy through their efforts to develop technologies and their outcomes at the Korea Tech Show 2018 and the 2018 Technology Awards Ceremony on Day 1, Dec. 5.

A poster for the Korea Tech Show 2018.

The top coveted prize, the Order of Industrial Service Merit, Gold Tower, went to Senior Executive Vice President Lee Cheon-gu of LG Household & Health Care for developing the herbal cosmetic brand “The History of Whoo.” He has been credited with helping the development of the brand’s new technologies.

The 2018 AI for Industries Conference brought together international and Korean experts on AI to discuss ways of promoting AI for industries.

The conference was designed to stress the significance of AI for industries and spread related technologies as well as share cases of commercialization of related technologies and build data-base infrastructure.