A joint statement from the UK and Republic of Korea mixed committee meeting on science and technology
Published 12 November 2024
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We, the governments of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Korea (ROK), convened on Tuesday, 12 November 2024 for the first mixed committee meeting (MCM) on science, innovation and technology. ROK 1st Vice Minister for Science and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Lee Chang Yune and UK Government Chief Scientific Adviser Professor Dame Angela McLean co-chaired the discussion, which reviewed UK-ROK cooperation in science and technology (S&T), discussed future areas for cooperation, and included wide-ranging discussion on themes including scientific careers and researcher exchange.
The MCM was convened under the 1985 ROK-UK Science and Technology Agreement, which was revitalised during ROK President Yoon’s State Visit to the UK in November 2023 by the historic UK-ROK Downing Street Accord. Taking place a year after the Downing Street Accord, it represents a major step to realising our shared commitments under the Accord, convening relevant UK and ROK ministries and agencies under one dialogue, for the first time. The participating ROK institutions included the:
- Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT)
- Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy (MOTIE)
- Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW)
- National Research Foundation of Korea
- Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology
- Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning
- Korea Health Industry Development Institute
The UK delegation was comprised of leaders and experts from the:
- UK Government Office for Science
- Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
- Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
- Department of Health and Social Care
- UK Research and Innovation (including the Medical Research Council and Innovate UK)
- Royal Society
We recognise the depth and strength of the scientific, economic, and strategic relationship between ROK and the UK. That is why discussion at the MCM covered a wide range of mutual science and technology policy and research priorities, including technologies of great potential:
- engineering biology
- semiconductors
- fusion and clean energy innovation
- quantum science and technologies
- bio-health and health innovation research and development
We understand the role of science and technology as a transformative engine that can drive economic growth and improve the lives of our citizens. We applaud recent announcements made, including the first International Collaboration Awards between the UK’s Royal Society and the National Research Foundation of Korea supporting the next generation of scientists, and the UK-ROK Joint Engineering Biology Centre, housed at Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB) and Imperial College London and funded by ROK and UK governments
The UK also welcomes ROK’s forthcoming association to Horizon Europe. As both heads of delegation recognised, UK and Korean partnerships in science and technology are critical to advancing our mutual economic aims and pivotal to solving global challenges.
Both sides agreed to reconvene for the next MCM in 2026, to be hosted in the UK.