NST and Fraunhofer Institute Hold First Global Technology Exchange

The National Science and Technology Council (NST) hosted the '2026 NST-Fraunhofer Global Technology Exchange' from June 16-17 at the Fraunhofer IWKS institute in Frankfurt, Germany, marking NST's inaugural technology exchange event in Europe. Through pre-event technology demand surveys and online meetings, NST identified 18 matched technologies. Three Memorandums of Understanding were signed between Korean research institutes and Fraunhofer institutes, including agreements between the Korea Institute of Chemical Technology and Fraunhofer IPT, the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials and Fraunhofer ICT, and the Korea Institute of Production Technology and Fraunhofer IWKS. NST plans to continue follow-up collaborations such as joint R&D, technology validation (PoC), and technology transfer. NST also intends to explore participation in international joint research programs like Horizon Europe through a session at the EKC 2026 conference in Toulouse, France on June 21. Kim Young-sik, NST's chairman, stated, 'Global technology commercialization is no longer optional but essential,' and emphasized strengthening NST's role as a global collaboration platform through expanded strategic partnerships with overseas research institutions.