Samsung to invest 61.7 billion won to nurture 44 future tech projects
Kim Seong-keun, a professor of chemistry at Seoul National University who chairs Samsung Science and Technology Foundation, speaks during a news conference in Seoul, Wednesday. / Courtesy of Samsung Electronics
By Jun Ji-hye
Samsung Electronics will invest 61.7 billion won ($54 million) in the first half of the year in 44 research projects including pioneering studies to find new engineering solutions to environmental pollution as well as breakthrough projects in artificial intelligence (AI), the company said Wednesday.
The tech giant said the research projects chosen for funding this time are not only aimed at nurturing future technologies including AI, robotics and fifth-generation (5G) networks, but also aimed at helping improve the quality of human life as the projects include measures to handle today's challenges such as environmental issues and incurable diseases.
The firm said in a media conference that the fund will be invested in 16 research projects in basic science, 11 in materials technology and 17 in information and communications technology.
Samsung Electronics set up Samsung Science and Technology Foundation in charge of basic science, as well as Samsung Research Funding & Incubation Center for Future Technology in charge of materials technology, and information and communication technologies in August 2013 to support various research projects.
The firm has so far invested a total 666.7 billion won in 517 research projects from universities and public research institutes here, backing up challenging and creative research projects that have had difficulty receiving financial support from the government.
“Our goal is to support building the foundation for future science and technology,” said Kim Seong-keun, a professor of chemistry at Seoul National University. Kim was named as chairman of Samsung Science and Technology Foundation by the foundation's board of directors, Tuesday.
“We hope to make a lasting contribution to society by advancing basic science, bringing innovations and redefining the technology industry,” he said.
Research projects include a study to repair DNA damage caused by various external environments such as radiation and virus. The study will be carried out by a research team of Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, the firm said, noting that the recovery mechanism is expected to contribute to developing new cancer drugs.
In the field of materials technology, a research team of Sungkyunkwan University will carry out a study on developing a filter capable of purifying polluted water of contaminants such as heavy metals at once. The results of the study can contribute to reducing the size of water treatment plants.
Research projects in information and communications technology will deal with core Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies such as AI, machine learning and quantum computers.
A research team of Yonsei University will develop word conversion algorithm and censors applied to the skin, which will help the hearing-impaired communicate more easily.