South Korea unveils future technology projects, targets moon landing by 2030

The "Seven Major SEED" initiative, announced at a Blue House meeting ⁠chaired by President Lee Jae Myung, brings together goals including commercial deployment of indigenous small modular reactors by 2035, a moon landing by 2030, development of a domestic 100-qubit quantum computer by 2029 and commercialisation of brain-computer interface products by 2035.

The seven projects cover small modular reactors, fusion ‌energy, ⁠next-generation renewable energy, quantum technology, space and aviation, advanced biotechnology, and critical minerals and materials supply chains, Science Minister Bae Kyung-hoon said.

The plan comes as South ⁠Korea looks 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.

"We will help these seeds grow ⁠and build a South Korea that no one can rival in 10 or 20 years," Bae said.