South Korea wants to take the lead in cutting edge technology and will spend some $4.76 billion in its so-called 'science belt,' which aims to build the country's scientific infrastructure by 2017. Designed to help Asia's fourth-largest economy to be on the forefront of technologies, the Education, Science and Technology Ministry said.
Education, Science and Technology Minister Lee Ju Ho said in a press briefing that the Daedeok district in the city of Daejeon, 120km south of Seoul, will be the main base for the development, said. Daedeok will have key research facilities such as the National Basic Science Institute and a particle accelerator, used for research into the composition of matter.
The institute is expected to control 50 'site laboratories' manned by up to 3,000 scientists who will carry out research in various fields. Half will be in Daejeon and nearby areas, with the rest split among other cities. Daedeok will become a global hub for basic scientific research, Mr Lee said, and help South Korea become a world technology leader AFP said in a relater report.
