The convergence of science & technology and diplomacy is a truly interesting topic. Global risks are amplified and synchronized. This is because science & technology and diplomacy are intricately linked through different protocols. This book deeply compares and analyzes the science & technology and diplomacy policies being pursued in Korea and Japan using the framework suggested by the Royal Society of the United Kingdom.
Although both Korea and Japan have adopted the same strategy of strengthening national competitiveness through science & technology and utilizing this in diplomacy, the Korean government has set a policy goal of creating new growth engines and jobs through the convergence of science & technology and information and communication technology (ICT). This is a strategy to achieve economic growth by combining science & technology, ICT, humanistic imagination and ideas.
On the other hand, Japan is promoting national interests and creating national competitiveness through science & technology diplomacy. Japan’s 3rd Basic Plan for Science & Technology suggests strategic promotion of international activities and strengthening science & technology diplomacy, thereby contributing to solving global problems. Japan is using science & technology as diplomatic tools and assets, and is strengthening its international presence through diplomatic activities for the development of science & technology.
And then, the Royal Society of the United Kingdom classifies the relationship between science and technology and diplomacy into three types: first, Science in Diplomacy, second, Diplomacy for Science, and third, Science for Diplomacy. This approach of the Royal Society of the United Kingdom clearly shows the mutually complementary relationship between science and technology and diplomacy.
This book uses this framework to confirm how National's science & technology are linked and integrated with the country's diplomatic strategy, and it is hoped that it will serve as a good reference for establishing the country's large-scale national research and development plan in the future.
The author has worked at the Ministry of Science and Technology of Korea for the past 30 years, carrying out planning and management of large and small national R&D projects, as well as project execution.
In particular, after graduating from the Graduate School of Economics at Tohoku University in Japan (MOT major, Magenent of Technology), he has accumulated a lot of field experience while working at the National Science and Technology Advisory Council of the Blue House, the Science and Technology Innovation Headquarters, and the Science and Technology Councilor at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Japan.
Among the author's many experiences in various organizations and fields related to science and technology, the author was particularly interested in how Japan links science and technology policies with diplomatic strategies, and wrote this book by analyzing data.
The author is currently working as an advisory professor as a member of the Science and Technology Peace Corps at Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST, Đại Học Bách Khoa Hà Nội) in Vietnam.