Envoys of Europe, Korea highlight cooperation on science and technology

South Korean Ambassador to the EU Kim Chang-beom and European Union Ambassador to South Korea Tomasz Kozlowski kicked off a “promotion caravan” in Seoul on Wednesday to raise awareness about South Korea-EU ties, as well as cooperation in fields of science and technology.

The two envoys highlighted upgraded cooperation in science and technology, which promises to see some 40 South Korean scientists and researchers work with their European counterparts for yearlong visits by the end of 2014.

“The partnership we are now witnessing between Europe and Korea is in a sense an ‘innovation alliance.’ Now, we have identified specific areas for deeper and collaborative research programs, termed as joint flagship projects,” Kim said.

The awareness-raising “caravan” comes on the heels of a summit meeting between President Park Geun-hye, President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy and President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso at the EU headquarters in Brussels on Nov. 8, 2013.

Kim returned to Seoul from Brussels in late March to participate in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs annual ambassadorial conference that took place last week. As part of the caravan, he and Kozlowski delivered a joint lecture on the South Korea-EU bilateral relationship at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies on Thursday.

Kozlowski said that South Korea’s focus on developing a creative economy centered on cultivating innovation in science and technology as growth engines for the economy parallels what Europe aims to achieve with its “Horizon 2020” initiative.

Some 500 applications from European research centers are currently being reviewed by the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning for possible collaborative projects in the future, the envoys said.

Catherine Ashton, high representative of the EU for foreign affairs and security Policy, is expected to visit Seoul in May to sign a legal framework agreement on crisis management focusing on anti-piracy efforts in the Indian Ocean.

By Philip Iglauer (ephilip2011@heraldcorp.com)