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The ocean provides us with infinite resources that are essential to our being and holds the answers to many of the problems we face today: food shortages, the energy crisis, environmental pollution and climate change. The wise decisions to take advantage of the possibilities at sea drove the success of the economic powerhouses of Portugal in the 16^th century, the Netherlands and Spain in the 17^th century, and Great Britain in the 18^th century.
 
South Korea is a nation of seas with its water surface area exceeding that of land by 4.3 times. Awareness of marine science and technology among South Koreans is higher than in any other country. According to one survey, 92.6% responded that marine science and technology are of national importance and 91.3% said that it has a significant impact on the maritime industry and even national economic development.
 
As such, the field of marine science and technology is expected to serve as a future milestone with the marine ecosystem estimated to be worth KRW 62 trillion in annual value.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) recently set forth its vision to “turn Korea into a leading maritime nation of caliber and stature” in 2022[1]. During the 20^th presidential election, around 1,000 experts and researchers in the maritime and fisheries sector proposed the vision to make Korea “one of the top three global marine leaders” alondside a pledge consisting of 11 objectives. The policies of the world’s major maritime countries also aim to achieve similar goals to those of South Korea: to strengthen maritime sovereignty, increase competitiveness in the maritime industry, tackle climate change, respond to transitions in energy and the switch to digitalization, and develop technology that further utilizes and conserves marine resources. 

In today’s rapidly changing world faced with challenges such as Covid-19 and climate change, we must build a “platform” that enables us to respond proactively and instantly, and constantly evolve in the face of these changes in order to ensure that our knowledge in marine science and technology serves the public interest and elevates Korea’s national status. To this end, I would like to propose that we establish a global open innovation platform that accommodates policies related to marine science and technology, the development of education and future talent, and the promotion of marine-based industries.

First, in order to efficiently implement marine science and technology policies, we should create a control tower (tentatively named “National Marine Science and Technology Advisory Council”) directly under the President or the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, with its function and authority similar to that of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), part of the Executive Office of the President in the US. With key interests focused on marine studies, the council should consist of world-class scholars in various fields – science, technology, environment, education, industry, safety and construction – as well as experts from relevant industries, academia and governmental sectors whose responsibilities will include making decisions on and executing the budget for national marine science and technology projects, establishing strategies and action plans for national policies and R&D programs, closely monitoring progress and conducting detailed performance reviews. The private sector should be allowed to lead the discovery of promising new technologies, and the costs of development projects distributed equally between the central and local governments. Strengthening the role of regional councils consisting of experts familiar with the local industry, academia and research activities would also prove to be beneficial. Most importantly, we should support the idea of creating an open science platform drawing on a democratic and welcoming organizational culture where numerous stakeholders can participate in improving and revising policies, and act on collective wisdom and intelligence.

Second, in order to foster and educate future talent in the maritime sector, we must expand investments in programs that are specific to the respective types of talent and in enterprises in innovative growth. The MOF should increase the total budget for programs for young marine scientists by at least 5%, provide scholarships and opportunities for study abroad and exchange programs, and ensure better working conditions for post-doctoral researchers. Furthermore, I hope that an institutional channel can be established, through which researchers can directly and effectively participate in the policy-making process.

Third, the national R&D programs should be reformed to tailor to respective companies and their stages of growth in order to allow SMEs and venture businesses in the marine sector to lead the fourth industrial revolution, and set up a glocal symbiotic ecosystem where agents/players in various fields can organically connect. This should be accompanied by efforts to promote businesses and projects by increasing funds and budget allocation to levels that drive continuous momentum and ensuring special guarantee funds for technology.

Lastly, in areas where we are in a position to catch up with advanced countries – such as blue carbon, carbon neutrality, marine resource exploration and high-value creation – due to the lack of basic technologies, including bioprospecting and green biorefinery, we need to close the gap by implementing new technologies and making them our own to suit our purposes. In addition, I hope that our officials have the insight to see the need for globalization and open innovation to break down the boundaries between Korea’s coastlines – Busan, Incheon, Yeosu and the East Sea – and how the world is indeed one and that we are all connected wherever we are; a valuable lesson, one that the pandemic has so painfully taught us. By inviting foreign government officials and prominent figures at renowned research centers, universities and businesses, and building and strengthening our network, there will be a natural influx of new ideas and technologies, to inspire autonomous development of original technology, and create a global cooperation system based on mutual trust which is likely to elevate Korea’s status and national interest and earn the respect of the international community.

Korea dreams of becoming one of the world’s three largest maritime nations. At such a time, we must live true to the spirit and legacy of our ancestors: 實事求是 利用厚生, finding solutions based on facts to bring about prosperity[2]. I am certain that the “blue ocean” that we dream of is reachable if we work together to improve the current situation through informed institutional policy-making based on a comprehensive platform, and setting up reasonable strategies that are followed by bold execution.
 
 
Taejun Han
Campus President, Ghent University Global Campus