Korea, Britain launch new platform for science technology cooperation

President Yoon Suk Yeol attends a meeting at the presidential office in Yongsan District, Seoul, Nov. 10. Yonhap

Korea and Britain have launched a new science technology committee meant to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation in various fields from biology to semiconductors, Seoul's science ministry said Tuesday.

The inaugural meeting of the Korea-Britain Mixed Committee on Science and Technology took place in Seoul, as a follow-up to the Downing Street Accord, signed by President Yoon Suk Yeol and former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during their summit last year, according to the Ministry of Science and ICT. The accord aims to strengthen the two countries' collaboration across various sectors, including security, defense, science and technology.

About 40 science officials from the two countries attended Tuesday's meeting, including First Vice Science Minister Lee Chang-yune and Angela McLean, the British government's chief scientific adviser.

The ministry said the new committee will incorporate the role of three separate committees that were in charge of science cooperation between the two countries at the science, health and industry ministries.

In the meeting, officials from Seoul and London discussed measures to deepen cooperation in a number of technologies that could drive new growth in the economy, including synthetic biology, nuclear fusion, quantum physics, semiconductors, clean energy and bio health.

In detail, the two sides will operate a joint research center for synthetic biology studies, co-develop core nuclear fusion technologies, and launch new joint research projects in bio health, according to the ministry.

The next mixed committee meeting will be held in Britain in 2026.

"Starting with the first mixed committee meeting, researchers from both countries will be able to communicate more actively and conduct joint research projects," Lee said. (Yonhap)