Issue Date : 2023-05-24 16:43
Staff Reporter Sung, Hyunhee sunghh@etnews.com
On the 24th, the National Assembly’s Science, Technology, Information, Broadcasting and Communications Committee (Chairman Chung Chung-rae) decided on 16 bills, including the “Bill on the Promotion of Quantum Science and Technology and Quantum Industry” for the systematic development of quantum science and technology and quantum industry.
“Quantum science and technology” is a technology that creates systems or generates, controls, measures, transmits, stores, and processes information based on quantum mechanical characteristics, and is attracting attention as a core technology of high-tech industries, such as measuring areas that are not possible in the past and performing operations.
The U.S. enacted the National Quantum Initiative Act in 2018 and has allocated more than 1 trillion won annually to the quantum sector at the federal government level. Countries around the world are conducting large-scale bilateral research and development led by the government, with the U.K. also announcing the National Quantum Strategy in March and unveiling its investment plan of 2.5 billion pounds (about 4 trillion won) over the next 10 years.
The “Bill on the Promotion of Quantum Science and Technology and Quantum Industry (Alternative)”, which was decided at the general meeting of the Science, ICT, and Defense, requires the government to establish a quantum comprehensive plan every five years to promote the development of quantum science and technology and fostering of quantum industry from a long-term perspective. In addition, it contains support and fostering measures covering the entire process from development to industrialization of quantum science and technology, such as promoting research and development and commercialization, fostering companies related to the quantum industry, fostering professional manpower, and designating quantum clusters.
In addition, the Science, ICT, Broadcasting, and Communications Committee has decided on various bills for the development of science and technology, such as the “Partial Amendment of the Act on the Promotion and Support of Female Scientists and Engineers”, which establishes the basis for supporting female scientists not to stop their research activities due to pregnancy, childbirth, childcare, and caring for family members, and the “Partial Amendment of the Act on the Creation of the Safe Laboratory Environment”, which expands the scope of the scope of the accident to protect victims.
These bills will be finalized at the plenary session of the National Assembly after a systematic and voluntary review by the Legislation and Judiciary Committee in the future.