SMBA Promotes Women's Enterprises In the "9th Creative Women's Leader Forum," hosted by the Korea Women's Venture Association, which was held in Daejeon on June 16, Lee Hyun-jae, administrator of the Small and Medium Business Administration (SMBA), said, "The SMBA will do its best to promote innovative women's enterprises. To this end, we are going to assist the foundation of innovative women-owned business. The number of enterprises that SMBA supports among women-owned businesses will increase from 340 this year to over 1,000 in 2010." Administrator Lee went on to say, "Entering this year, the policy direction to support women's venture business has been changed, now focusing on the specialization of business, and supporting independent growth, instead of the general supporting policy in the past. Also, the purchase rate of the products of women-owned business will be increased from the current 2.8% to 5% in 2010. In case of small purchase or service less than 30 million won, the government will give a priority to the women's enterprises by allowing them a free contract." IEC Selects Recipients of '1906 Award' Prof. Kim Yong-bae, Director of the New Growth Engine Display Center, was selected as the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) '1906 Award' prizewinner, along with another two prizewinners, according to the Ministry of Commerce, Industry & Energy (MOCIE). The '1906 Award' is a prize that is conferred on experts who produced achievements for international standard enactment activities to commemorate the IEC's 100th Anniversary of its founding. Prof. Kim who received a prize in the field of flat display, has been the international standard's project leader for 'LCD's electricity optical traits' over 12 years since 1994. Lee Min-hwa Elected As Chairman of KTTC Former chairman of Medison, Lee Minhwa, has been elected as chairman of KTTC (Korea Technology Transfer Center). He is the person who had proposed the establishment of KTTC and also assumed the office of chairman as the first chairman of KTTC until 2001, when Medison went bankrupt. It is reported that KOVA (Korea Venture Business Association) recommended him. Meanwhile, the background of his acceptance of the chairmanship is his belief that venture business has to be revived. In the late 1990s, he had proposed the establishment of a technology transfer center for the purpose of preventing developed technologies from being left dormant, so that technologies can be freely transferred in the market. Chairman Lee said, "The domestic venture industry is mainly composed of KOSDAQ listed companies, and so the venture business in the early stage is meeting with difficulty in gaining access to venture capital. To help these venture business in the beginning stage, the active role of M&A and Free Board is very important. In particular, in the sense that KTTC should play the role of activating M&A, it is meaningful." Softbank's Masayoshi Son Ranked Third By Japan's New Employees Softbank's president & CEO Masayoshi Son has risen to third position among entrepreneurs Japan's new employees respect this year, according to Nihonkeizai Shimbun. According to a survey result by the Japan Management Association among 331 new employees who participated in this year's spring seminar, CEO Carlos Ghosn of Renault Nissan and Bill Gates Microsoft chairman held the first place and the second place respectively. Following them, Softbank CEO Masayoshi Son, Honda Soichiro Honda Motor founder and Matsushita Konosuke Matsushita Electricity held the fourth place and the fifth place respectively. Korean President Reshuffles Cabinet President Roh Moohyun nominated former director general for policy planning at the presidential office Kim Byong-joon as new deputy prime minister & minister of education & human resources development. Incumbent director general for policy planning at Chong Wa Dae Kwon O-kyu, was named as new deputy prime minister & minister of finance & economy. Chang Byoung-wan, 54, vice minister of planning & budget, was promoted to the top post to replace Byeon Yang-kyoon, 57, who became director general for policy planning at Chong Wa Dae. Vice chief Jun Gun-pyo of the National Tax Service (NTS), was also promoted as NTS commissioner following recent resignation by his predecessor Lee Ju-sung. Chong Wa-Dae said that the President has appointed them for the cabinet and national administration's stabilization, adding that they are the persons who have accumulated sufficient career experience in major posts and contributed to operating policy. Their positions are important and exacting if anybody does not understand the President's national administration philosophy. KAIST President Leaves Office Prof. Robert Laughlin vacated his position as president of KAIST on June 14. His reappointment failed due to fellow KAIST professors' strong antagonism. During his tenure at KAIST there were various conflicts since professors did not favor Laughlin's style and plans to improve projects upon the method of study. He is the first invitation president of KAIST as a foreigner who was appointed 2004. He commented that he doesn't feel any regret for leaving the position because he think his duties are totally finished. But, at the end of his term, he stressed that " Korea's principles of equity are comprehensible, but if they don't like any differences between other colleagues, Korea's eminent universities can not overtake other global universities" Chin Dae-je Invited As Chair Professor of ICU ICU (Information and Communication University) has invited former MIC minister Chin Dae-je as chair professor on June 29. Accordingly, former minister Chin is scheduled to teach students ITrelated policies and industrial development subjects. He is a graduate of Seoul National University, and earned his Ph.D. at Stanford University, USA, majoring in electronics engineering. He has worked for IBM Watson research institute, and also served as president of Samsung Electronics. Scientist of the Year Chosen Professor Kwon Kil Hyun, Division of applied mathematic of KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute and Science and Technology) nominated as "A excellent scientist of this year" by IBC and proudly registered on the 'Who's Who in Science and Technology' of Marquis Who's Who 2006~2007's edition. Professor Kwon carrying out brisk research on differential equation and the theory of special functions, and issued over 100 treatises on that parts. Han Young-soo Elected As KIEC President Han Young-soo, former senior managing director of KITA (Korea International Trade Association), has been elected as new president of KIEC (Korea Institute for Electronic Commerce). New president Han is a graduate of Gyeonggi Commercial High School and Yonsei University, and passed the higher civil service examination. While serving in the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Energy and its former organization, he made a great contribution to the national industry and trade promotion as a policy specialist in this field. Until recently, he worked for KITA.