Reasons for Proposal
1. Reason for proposal
The world started the fierce competition as to the initiative of future industries with the recognition that the growth of advanced industries such as semiconductors, AI, bio, and hydrogen industries is directly connected with national security. Recently, the United States Innovation and Competition Act passed the Senate, seeking to invest 2 billion US dollars (about KRW 230 trillion) at least in future technology and science/research areas; China vowed to make investments focused on seven advanced industries such as semiconductors, AI, bio, etc.
Unlike major countries, investments in technologies related to advanced industries are insufficient in the case of Korea. According to a report on a survey research, the domestic technical level (as of 2020) is similar to that of China, and the technical difference from China seems to have disappeared; thus, aggressive investments and support are urgently required in the R&D of technologies. Especially, if technology overtaking occurs in areas such as semiconductors and display, etc. where Korea has had technical superiority, the Korean economy—which is highly dependent on such industries—may be seriously impacted.
Although aggressive support for and investments in advanced industries and related technologies are essential, individual acts to form the basis have not been established. There is a need to designate advanced industrial areas requiring national-level support and to provide a systematic foundation to acquire competitiveness in advanced industries by executing aggressive support policies in various areas including technology development, manpower cultivation, investments, etc.
Therefore, the aim is to contribute to the continuous growth of the national economy by providing the basis of support policies and special cases such as R&D of advanced technologies, cultivation of industrial manpower, formation of special complexes, regulatory easing, etc. by establishing the Special Act on the Support for National Advanced Industries and constructing systematic support systems for national advanced industries.
2. Main content
A. The national advanced technologies, national advanced industries, and special complexes of national advanced industries to be supported by the Act are defined (Article 2 of the draft).
B. The Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy shall establish and implement a master plan to support national advanced industries every three (3) years (Article 5 of the draft).
C. The national advanced technology strengthening committee shall be established under the Prime Minister to review important matters for strengthening the competitiveness of national advanced industries, and the basis for establishment of small committees of industries and professionals and working-level committee for efficient performance of the work is provided (Article 6 of the draft).
D. In order to process rapidly the difficulties of enterprises in relation to national advanced industries, regulations are provided on the regulation and related acts and subordinate statutes (Article 7 and Article 8 of the draft).
E. In order to accumulate and use the information on national advanced industries, the basis for preparation of related statistics and construction and operation of an integrated information management system is provided (Article 9 and Article 21 of the draft).
F. The basis of support policies is provided for the expansion and employment of manpower including cultivation of professional manpower, invitation of excellent foreign manpower, and payment of employment support money, etc. in relation to national advanced industries (Article 10 and Article 17 of the draft).
G. The basis for implementation of projects is provided in order to encourage R&D of national advanced technologies (Article 18 of the draft).
H. The basis for supporting the start-up of enterprises and installation of manufacturing facilities and infrastructure is provided in relation to national advanced industries (Article 19 and Article 20 of the draft).
I. The basis of necessity for cooperation and international exchanges, etc. in national advanced industries and related industries is provided (Article 22 and Article 23 of the draft).
J. Various special cases such as tax reduction/exemption, etc. are provided to support national advanced industries (Article 24 through Article 30 of the draft).
K. The basis for the formation of national advanced industrial special complexes and implementation of projects and various special cases for special complexes are prescribed, and the basis for the management, etc. of cooperative projects in special complexes and operation performances of special complexes is provided (Article 31 through Article 46 of the draft).
L. The basis for the establishment of national advanced industrial competitiveness strengthening special accounting is provided for the efficient implementation of projects in order to strengthen the competitiveness of national advanced industries (Article 47 of the draft).
