The Ministry of Science and ICT is calling for innovative and challenging research and development ideas in fields related to national strategic technologies such as advanced bio, AI humanoids, and quantum, as well as solutions to national and social challenges. The ministry announced on the 15th that it will hold the ‘K-Moonshot Project National Contest’ from the 16th to January 15th next year to discover challenging R&D ideas that can change the future of Korea.
The term ‘Moonshot’ originated from the Apollo project launched by NASA in 1969, symbolizing innovative and challenging goals. The K-Moonshot Project, promoted as a national agenda by the new government, aims to foster future strategic technologies and solve national challenges by setting clear missions and boldly challenging R&D.
An advisory group of top experts in each technology field is being formed to plan related projects such as AI-based drug development, clean energy, household and care humanoids, rare earth reduction technology, and next-generation memory semiconductors. Along with expert planning, the national contest will widely collect ideas from researchers and the general public.
The contest topics include advanced bio, AI humanoids, quantum, space and aviation, semiconductors, displays, secondary batteries, materials and nano, and future energy, focusing on innovative R&D ideas to solve national and social challenges. The best ideas will be announced and awarded in March next year, with the top prize including the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT Award and a prize of 3 million won, and the excellence prize including the President of the National Research Foundation Award and a prize of 1 million won.