Finnish tech lab to conduct joint research in S. Korea

SEOUL, March 4 (Yonhap) -- Finland's largest multi-technology laboratory opened a
joint research center in South Korea to develop a model to promote the growth of
ubiquitous network technology, the government said Wednesday.
The Ministry of Knowledge Economy said the Technical Research Centre of Finland
(VTT) started work at the Daedeok Innopolis center near Daejeon, 160km south of
Seoul, to develop a killer application to be used with ubiquitous Internet
technology.
VTT, one of the largest applied research organizations in northern Europe, has
dispatched key engineers and set aside 3 billion won (US$1.8 million) to work
with the South Korean state-run Electronics and Telecommunications Research
Institute (ETRI).
The ministry in charge of industrial policies, trade and investment promotion
said models can be tested in the country before being transferred to the private
sector for full-fledged development.
"Any system models and technologies developed can use South Korea as a test bed
and help fuel fresh demand in the information technology sector," said a
government official, adding that many local companies, as well VTT's partners
abroad, can benefit from the arrangement.
Daedeok Innopolis, a high-tech research and development cluster, is the
ministry's core subsidiary established to promote commercialization of research
and development. The cluster houses more than 700 companies.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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