The UK’s partnership with the Republic of Korea will be pushed to new heights with a series of science and tech deals concerning AI, semiconductors, space, and more.

Set to be signed by secretary of state Michelle Donelan, minister of trade, industry and energy Ban Moon-kyi, and minister of science and ICT Lee Jong Ho, the deal is part of a new landmark Accord between the two countries.

Both nations have an established place in the top five of the Global Innovation Index, and aim to strengthen their tech prowess through the agreement.

The two countries are set to work closer together than ever before to harness the potential of critical technologies like AI, quantum and semiconductors to create jobs and unlock economic growth, alongside a new £4.5 million fund to create joint research and innovation partnerships.

This builds on the recent international progress on safe, responsible AI development achieved at the AI Safety Summit, the next edition of which will be co-hosted by the Republic of Korea and the UK next year.

New commitments to collaborate in space, and on digital tech, as well as an over-arching agreement on science and technology, could open up new opportunities for trade, innovation, and investment in both countries.

President Yoon, the Duchess of Edinburgh and the Science and Tech Secretary will attend the event marking the sci-tech deals’ signing, and hear from some of the brightest minds working on science and tech projects in the UK and the Republic of Korea, before Secretary of State Donelan formally signs the sci-tech agreements which form part of the new bilateral Accord. The UK and the Republic of Korea share a close relationship, and the Accord also deepens ties on defence, trade and investment.

“The Republic of Korea is a tech powerhouse, and a vital partner to the UK,” secretary Donelan said.

“We share the same values and face the same challenges: from creating future jobs and industries fit for the AI age, to bringing the power of science to bear on climate change and supporting ageing populations. As part of the new Accord between our two countries, this raft of agreements will future-proof our relationship for decades to come: a partnership that is already bearing fruit as we work closely together on the next AI Safety Summit.”

The science and technology agreements being signed as part of the UK-Republic of Korea bilateral Accord range from responsible AI commitments to semiconductor and space cooperation.

The accords include a new Framework for Semiconductor Cooperation to enhance the collaboration on skills, research and development, supply chain resilience and trade, and to deepen industry links.

Further, a memorandum of understanding on space cooperation will also be agreed to, paving the way for joint space endeavours between the two nations.

Overarching the Accord will be a new Implementation Arrangement, which will update and reboot a Science and Tech cooperation agreement from 1985, to modernise the two countries’ partnerships for the 21st century.

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In addition to these, the Accord will also open up a new dialogue on quantum which will include talent exchanges, and a commitment to closer cooperation on engineering biology.

To mark the signing of the agreement, the Royal Society and the National Research Foundation of Korea are investing up t £4.5 million into the new UK-ROK International Collaboration Awards for emerging UK and Korean research leaders to develop collaborative partnerships.

This is supported by the International Science Partnerships Fund, the UK’s global fund for research and innovation. Innovate UK will also invest over £8 million from the next financial year into innovation programmes with the Republic of Korea, driving the development and commercialisation of critical technologies, including for the first time – semiconductors.

These bilateral agreements, alongside Horizon association, demonstrate the UK’s global ambitions to deepen collaboration with leading lights in science right across the globe. The government is determined to open up the broadest range of opportunities, for the brightest British minds to unlock breakthroughs with colleagues, the world over.