Korea, Canada open fifth science committee with research pact

South Korea's science ministry opened a two-day joint science and technology committee with Canada in Seoul on Thursday, the tenth year of a bilateral cooperation agreement, with the two countries' research funding agencies signing a memorandum of understanding on the opening day.

The fifth Korea-Canada Joint Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation, held at the Koreana Hotel in Seoul through Friday, brought together about 60 people from more than 25 government ministries and related organizations in both countries, some attending online. Hwang Seong-hoon, the science ministry's director-general for international cooperation, led the Korean delegation, and Lakshmi Krishnan, vice president of Canada's National Research Council, led the Canadian side.

Under the memorandum, the National Research Foundation of Korea and the National Research Council of Canada will expand joint research and the exchange of researchers and resources, and will look for opportunities to work together in advanced fields including quantum technology.

Officials shared policy on artificial intelligence, quantum and biotechnology and discussed research security and future innovation. On AI, Korea presented its three mega-projects alongside Canada's AI for All strategy, and the two sides discussed the potential for cooperation. In quantum, the funding agencies shared research and development strategies and the state of researcher exchanges. In biotechnology, the talks centred on synthetic biology and biomanufacturing. On research security, the two countries shared their policies and institutional responses.

On Friday, First Vice Minister Koo Hyuk-chae met Philip Jennings, deputy minister of Canada's Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, to discuss strengthening cooperation in advanced science and technology. The two shared their countries' main AI policies and exchanged views on deepening quantum cooperation, pointing to the Quantum Development Group on Oct. 13-14 and the Multilateral Dialogue on Quantum on Oct. 15-16, both held in Seoul this month.

"This year is a meaningful one, marking the tenth anniversary of the signing of the Korea-Canada science and technology innovation cooperation agreement, and it is time to take cooperation a step further on the foundation of trust and partnership the two countries have built," Koo said. "We will continue to strengthen strategic cooperation in advanced technology fields such as artificial intelligence and quantum, drawing on the strengths and capabilities both countries hold."