Q: First off, please explain your Institute transformation strategy as a leading science/technology knowledge infrastructure construction institution. A: Since the consolidation of KINITI and KORDIC in January 2001, KISTI has been expanding its research infrastructure continuously to provide a better quality information service. As the R&D cycle is getting faster, R&BD (Research & Business Development), that is, research undertaken with commercialization in mind from its planning stage is now coming to the fore. In addition to this, high-speed networking, and cutting-edge research infrastructure such as supercomputers, etc., that can deal high capacity information very rapidly have become very important. KISTI, which operates a supercomputing center of national dimensions and runs a national science technology high-speed research network, is pursuing innovation in science/technology R&D via the expansion of supercomputing resources and its effective operation in order to support cutting-edge R&D. Not the least also, to foster a cyber research environment, KISTI places emphasis on Grid technology R&D.

Cho Young-hwa, Ph.D., president, the Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information

Q: Then, please touch upon KISTI fields of research activity such as science technology information services as well as the construction of supercomputing infrastructure. A: The R&D as well as the services which KISTI carries out for the purpose of constructing national science/technology knowledge information infrastructure, breaks down largely into science/technology information dissemination, supercomputing, and high-speed network research. First of all, with regard to science/technology information dissemination, KISTI is disseminating information as well as studying the construction of a service system in the interests of effective utilization of science/technology information. Second, in regard to building supercomputing infrastructure, we construct supercomputing resources of world-class level. We also undertake application technology research as well as research to maximize its utilization. KISTI is devising a means of maximizing the utilization of computing resources by continuously maintaining and developing supercomputers of the highest level and by constructing an optimal-use environment. Plus these activities, KISTI is constructing/operating a high-speed research network to support the development of large-scale cutting-edge science technology as well as the smooth dissemination of application technology data, and at the same time, offers an information service utilizing all these capabilities. Q: What is your institution strategy to acquire supercomputing infrastructure of a No. 5 world ranking A: First, by connecting several PC servers technically, KISTI is intensively developing a C cluster supercomputer, which provides high-powered supercomputing resources. Second, we are carrying out our orea@Home project, which forms supercomputer capabilities by gathering the resources of PCs lying idle through the Internet. Approximately 10,000 PCs take part in Korea@Home right now, and KISTI is carrying out a large-sized project of national dimensions on global risk management with computing resources gathered like this. In addition, KISTI plans to jointly utilize high-powered computing resources at home and abroad and link them to our supercomputing center by utilizing grid technology. It is by his method that we plan to construct a supercomputing infrastructure that is among the world top 5. Q: Could you tell our readers your institution vision as a pivotal institution for national science technology innovation A: Since national science/technology can only advance rapidly when KISTI will construct a solid science/technology infrastructure, this will be our organization major focus. To prepare a springboard by which Korea can leap to the position of an advanced country by innovating national science/technology, it necessary also to innovate a national science technology infrastructure. Science/technology circles are converging globally in such a rapid fashion that new technologies almost spring up overnight to surprise one in the morning! Thus, no matter how excellent one manpower and ideas may be, if computing resources to back high-grade knowledge information and large-scale cutting-edge research are not there, and neither is a high-speed network to be able to maximize research efficiency, then it would be difficult for Korea to claim international superiority in the science/technology area. Q: What are your institution priority projects this year A: First, we will devote all our efforts to the construction of the national cyber research environment. Second, KISTI will make every effort to drive forward the global science technology cooperation research network project (GLORIAD) through which we could boost our science/technology to advanced country levels. Third, by means of the construction of a national science technology all-round information system, KISTI will do its best to accelerate government science/technology projects. Fourthly, we plan to successfully operate the &T-SEC/Science and Technology Security Center we opened March 31, which will guard against any acking attacks against national science technology information institutions, monitor any accidental infringements, and develop and install anti-hacking technology for each institution. Q: Finally, what kind of cooperation are you entering into with related overseas institutions A: The core of the international cooperation plan this year for KISTI can be summarized as ISTI sharing with the world. For this purpose, KISTI will propel the exchange of information with 422 information institutions in 49 countries and conclude agreements with prominent overseas science/technology information institutions (for instance, Russia VINITI, and France INIST). Second, as a member country we will take an active part in the ICSTI/International Committee on Science and Technology Information of which approximately 40 science/technology research institutions around the globe are members and will strive to attract the 2008 Plenary Session to Korea. Third, we are reinforcing the science/technology human resource network by launching an exchange program for information technology experts and at the same time, we will promote technological exchanges between North and South Korea. Lastly, we will construct an environment for organic cooperation with advanced country research institutions such as in the U.S., Europe and Japan for the purpose of constructing a cyber research environment.