The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced a call for applications for the designation of new specialized complexes in the fields of robots, defense, and secondary batteries.
This initiative aims to secure competitive advantages in the robot and defense sectors and strengthen the supply chain in the secondary battery sector.
Interested institutions and companies can apply by February 27 next year, with final designations expected in the second half of the year.

The Ministry of Science and ICT is inviting research and development ideas to solve national and social challenges.
The contest seeks innovative ideas in fields such as advanced bio, AI humanoids, and quantum technology.
Selected outstanding ideas will be announced in March next year, with top prizes including the Minister’s Award and 3 million KRW.

South Korea and Japan have arranged a meeting to discuss expanding tourism exchanges and revitalizing regional tourism.
This year’s council will be held in Shiga Prefecture, Japan, with over 80 tourism industry representatives from both countries attending.
The discussion will focus on various tourism industry issues, especially marking the 60th anniversary of Korea-Japan diplomatic normalization.

The National AI Strategy Committee has unveiled an action plan to achieve the world’s top position in Physical AI by 2030.
The committee outlined three major policy pillars: fostering an AI innovation ecosystem, nationwide AI-based transformation, and contributing to a global AI basic society.
They will gather opinions from various sectors from the 16th until January 4th next year to finalize the plan.

President Lee Jae-myung and Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith agreed to elevate bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership during their summit.
The two countries will establish a hotline and sign an MOU for police cooperation, expanding collaboration in infrastructure, key minerals, and climate change response.
They also pledged close cooperation on regional and international issues, including the Korean Peninsula and ASEAN relations.

President Lee Jae-myung emphasized the importance of the first budget for the AI era in his speech on the 2026 budget proposal.
Next year’s government R&D budget has been set at a record high of approximately 35.5 trillion won.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs plans to allocate 261.7 billion won for R&D in the agricultural sector, focusing on smart farming and green bio industries.