S. Korea to push hightech convergence to boost exports

SEOUL, Nov. 18 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will develop converging technology that merges energy, environment, health and information technology (IT) to bolster export of value-added products, the government said Tuesday.

The Ministry for Education, Science and Technology said the 2009-2013 masterplan
aims to support efforts to detect potentially important growth engines that merge
several sectors, help train workers and organize research and production
arrangements.
It said that if the converging technology map drawn by several ministries is
followed through, the country's basic technology level will reach 70-90 percent
levels of industry leaders by 2013 from 50-80 percent at present.
"Advances in convergence could create new industries and fuel economic growth
engines that can help increase hightech product exports," a ministry official
said.
He said the goal would be to push up the combined amount of hightech convergence
products to fifth place among all of South Korea's manufactured goods exports by
the target year from seventh at present.
Manufacturing value-added products is a key industrial and export strategy for
the country because high labor costs and fierce competition from countries like
China and Southeast Asian are making lower-end product less competitive in the
global arena.
Converging technology can meet such demands because it calls for combining
cutting edge sciences including new materials, nano and biotechnologies and the
IT sectors that can come together to better promote human welfare,
transportation, health and the environment.
The ministry then said that the growth strategy calls for early development of
basic technology, training skilled workers, increasing support for research,
helping use converging technology to promote industrial growth and new job
creation.
Efforts will also be made to facilitate interdisciplinary cooperation and
strengthen tie-ups within the government and make appropriate changes to laws.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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