Starting in July, South Korea and the European Union (EU) are set to begin collaborative research on neuromorphic chips, an advanced type of semiconductor modeled after the human brain’s neural network.
This initiative involves an investment of €12 million (16.2 billion won) spread over three years. Additionally, by the year’s end, Korea and the EU plan to extend their cooperation to areas like 6G (sixth-generation mobile communications), with an allocated budget of €5 million (6.8 billion won) for the next three years.
The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) in Korea shared on Mar. 27 that the collaborative research agenda was established during the ‘2nd Republic of Korea-EU Digital Partnership Council’ held in Brussels, Belgium. As per the agreement, the collaborative efforts between Korea and the EU will span various domains including semiconductors, 6G, AI, and cybersecurity.
The partnership is expected to widen next year when Korea acquires Associate Membership in Horizon Europe, the world’s most extensive research and innovation program led by the EU. Horizon Europe has a budget of €95.5 billion (130 trillion won) for the seven years from 2021 to 2027. Korea, having been granted associate membership on Mar. 25, marks the first Asian nation to join this program.
This association will open doors for Korean researchers to engage in international collaborative projects funded by Horizon Europe starting next year. As an associate member, Korea will contribute financially to joint research endeavors aimed at solving global challenges and bolstering industrial competitiveness.
