South Korea's "Seven Major SEED" Initiative Targets Brain-Computer Interface Commercialization and AI-Driven Drug Discovery by 2035
核心洞察
South Korea unveiled the "Seven Major SEED" initiative, a national technology strategy spanning nuclear energy, quantum computing, space, and biotechnology to secure new growth engines beyond semiconductors and AI.
The biotechnology component aims to establish an AI-bio infrastructure by 2030 and commercialize brain-computer interface (搜索) products by 2035.
The plan supports AI-driven drug discovery (搜索), autonomous laboratories, and advanced gene and cell therapies (搜索) as part of its advanced biotechnology agenda.
South Korea has unveiled an ambitious national technology strategy that places advanced biotechnology—including AI-driven drug discovery (搜索), autonomous laboratories, and advanced gene and cell therapies (搜索)—among seven priority "SEED" projects intended to secure the country's next-generation growth engines beyond semiconductors and AI.
The "Seven Major SEED" initiative, announced at a Blue House meeting chaired by President Lee Jae Myung, brings together goals spanning small modular reactors (SMRs), fusion energy, next-generation renewable energy, quantum technology, space and aviation, advanced biotechnology, and critical minerals and materials supply chains, according to Science Minister Bae Kyung-hoon.
"The seven SEED projects we are discussing today will become next-generation growth engines and core strategic national assets," President Lee said.
Biotechnology Roadmap
Within the advanced biotechnology pillar, South Korea aims to establish an AI-bio infrastructure by 2030 and commercialize brain-computer interface (搜索) products by 2035. The government also plans to support AI-driven drug discovery (搜索), autonomous laboratories, and advanced gene and cell therapies (搜索), positioning these capabilities as central to the country's long-term technological competitiveness.
The biotechnology agenda forms part of a broader push to prepare for slower long-term economic growth and intensifying global competition in emerging technologies that governments increasingly view as critical to both economic competitiveness and national security. The plan comes as South Korea grapples with a shrinking working-age population and slowing potential growth.
Broader Technology Portfolio
The initiative's other pillars include commercial deployment of indigenous small modular reactors by 2035, a domestic moon landing by 2030, and development of a 100-qubit quantum computer by 2029. Under the strategy, South Korea aims to commercialize a domestically developed SMR by 2035 and begin construction of non-light-water SMRs in the 2030s, while pursuing fusion-based electricity generation in the late 2030s.
In quantum technology, the government aims to develop a domestic error-corrected 100-qubit quantum processor by 2029 and become the world's leading quantum-chip manufacturing nation by 2035. The space programme includes a domestic moon landing mission in 2030, a second lunar lander mission in 2032, and construction of an independent low-Earth-orbit satellite communications network by 2035.
Commercialization and Regulatory Support
Officials said a public-private task force would be created to help accelerate commercialization through regulatory reforms. The supply-chain component includes measures to expand domestic processing and recycling of critical minerals, increase strategic stockpiles, diversify sourcing, and invest 10 trillion won ($7.1 billion) in materials, parts, and equipment technologies by 2030.
"Whether we become leaders enjoying unlimited opportunities or followers exposed to the risk of falling behind depends on our choice," President Lee said.
"We will help these seeds grow and build a South Korea that no one can rival in 10 or 20 years," Science Minister Bae said.