$1 Bln to Foster Science and Engineering Talent

The government will invest 1.56 trillion won (1.1 billion U.S. dollars) to foster talent in science and engineering.

The Education, Science and Technology Ministry said yesterday that the National Science and Technology Council presented a plan to this end this year and will inject funds to achieve 15 main tasks.

The sum for this year increased 14.7 percent or 199.5 billion won (142 million dollars) from the previous year.

The main tasks include the improvement of education at science and engineering colleges; fostering key research personnel; expansion of international talent exchanges; cultivation of demand-oriented talent; and expansion of infrastructure to nurture and utilize human resources in science and engineering.

State funds of 715.1 billion won (508 million dollars) will go to cultivating key research personnel. To achieve the 15 tasks, the government will focus on increasing the number of science and engineering students to receive scholarships from 17,610 last year to 23,060 this year, expanding education for gifted students in science, and fostering world-class universities.

The tasks will be assigned to relevant ministries. The Education Ministry, which will supervise each task, will announce next month the fulfillment of tasks last year.

foryou@donga.com