- Among the five cases selected from Korea, four cases were from the MSIT

The Ministry of Science and ICT (Minister Choi Ki-young, hereinafter referred to as the MSIT) announced that the MSIT’s four outstanding cases* in government innovation in 2020 were selected as best practices in the public sector innovation by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
* 1) Safety management of IoT-based electromagnetic waves; 2) E-notification service; 3) Research Infrastructure Innovation Platform (ZEUS); and 4) Pre-certification of Public Procurement of Innovative Products

The OECD is exploring cases of public sector innovation that can be shared with the international community to solve complex and diverse social problems, and the Observatory of Public Sector Innovation (OECD-OPSI) has been established and operated since 2013 to share these cases of public sector innovation.

The OECD-OPSI is a task force (TF) composed of public innovation experts from the chair country and member countries, and is established at the OECD headquarters to discover best practices of public sector innovation or to conduct consulting.

Best practices of public sector innovation of each country have been identified and shared on the official website (http://www.oecd-opsi.org). As of March 2021, a total of 463 innovation cases* from 71 countries have been introduced.
※ A total of 18 best practices of Korea have been selected and registered (Twelve in the government sector and 6 in other sectors.)

The MSIT establishes and carries out an implementation plan for public sector innovation every year, and as a result of submitting major cases of public sector innovation to the OECD in 2020, the four best practices of public sector innovation were selected by the OECD-OPSI.

Since the MSIT’s case of public sector innovation (1)* was selected by the OECD-OPSI in 2018, the Ministry is serving as the spearhead of innovation leading public sector innovation.
* A research and development platform, "R&D PIE," for investment and evaluation

The best practices of public sector innovation by the MSIT selected by the OECD-OPSI are as follows:

1. Safety management of IoT-based electromagnetic waves (Radio Infrastructure Division; Korea Communications Agency)

In order to address concerns over electromagnetic waves from base stations near residential areas, an “IoT-based electromagnetic wave measuring instrument” using IoT radio networks has been developed for the first time in the world. The measuring instruments, which are remotely managed regularly, have been offered to the public since 2018 so that people can check the levels of electromagnetic waves by themselves.

The IoT-based electromagnetic wave measuring instruments are small in size and easy to install and operate. The instruments are available for free rental so that the public can measure and check the levels of electromagnetic waves by themselves. They are also installed at high-traffic facilities and facilities for children to monitor and manage the levels of electromagnetic waves. The levels of electromagnetic waves in residential areas have been measured at more than 2,600 locations, and if the levels are too high, experts are dispatched to check the safety.

2. E-notification service (Digital Industry Policy Division; Korea Internet & Security Agency)

E-notification service is a mobile public service that sends public announcements and notices to individuals through mobile platforms familiar to citizens (e.g. Kakao Talk, MMS, other applications). The service has been adopted by four ministries, including the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and the National Tax Service, and 91 local governments, including the Seoul City Government, 29 public agencies, and 103 private companies.

About 43 million pieces of paper bills have been digitized as of 2020 through the E-notification service, and this resulted in greater efficiency in public services, cost reduction, and decrease in the levels of carbon and particulate matter.

3. Research Infrastructure Innovation Platform (ZEUS) (Assessment and Evaluation Division; National Research Facilities & Equipment Center)

ZEUS was established in 2013 with national R&D funds in order to manage research facility information throughout the entire life cycle (planning-adoption-establishment-operation-use-disposal), with a particular focus on enhancing the usability of national R&D funds through open data.

This state-level research infrastructure management system established in Korea is the first of its kind in the world. It serves as a channel for utilizing research infrastructure, for example, by supporting funds for joint use through cooperation with the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and expanding the use to relevant central and local government agencies.

4. Pre-certification of public purchase procurement of innovative products (R&D Outcome Innovation Division; Korea Industrial Technology Association)

The Pre-certification of Public Purchase Procurement of Innovative Products is a system designed to allow small and medium-sized enterprises to commercialize the outcomes of their national R&D projects or transfer R&D outcomes of the MSIT from universities and government-funded research institutes, to facilitate the market launch of successful R&D outcomes that are not easy to commercialize.

The Pre-certification system is operated by the MSIT, with 25 expert subcommittees and 2,000 evaluators to promote systematic certification and examination of innovative products.

Minister of Science and ICT Choi Kiyoung said, "We plan to continue innovation in public services to improve the quality of life and secure Korea's place as a global digital leader with a strong science and technology foundation."

He added, "We will continue to create best practices of public innovation by working “smarter“ in the future, for example, making the government work process more efficient and productive."

For further information, please contact Deputy Director Kang Jaesung (E-mail : kjs6485@korea.kr), Yeom Dongsu(E-mail : dongsu441@korea.kr), Won Seongho (E-mail : h21won@korea.kr), Kim Seonggon (E-mail : firstway@korea.kr), Kim Seongnyeon(E-mail : esenkim@korea.kr) of the MInistry of Science and ICT.