The Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS) under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) of the Republic of Korea launched the fourth Standards Leadership Forum on the high-tech industry today in Seoul with the participation of International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) President Jo Cops, Korea’s chief technology officers (CTOs) and other standards leaders.


The forum was held to discuss the importance of Korean businesses’ participation in international standards activities and response measures with regard to the intensifying global standards race to claim the rule-maker position in artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, and such future industries.


During discussions, CTOs agreed that international standards provide important guidance for emerging technologies and expressed commitment to taking part in the effort toward building global standards leadership to achieve super gaps in advanced industries.


The IEC president gave a keynote lecture on the impact of international standards on Korean businesses, noting the rapid pace of innovation that AI and digital transformation are driving, and maintained the need for Korean firms to actively participate in standards activities in order to stay ahead in the race.


The lecture was followed by experts’ presentations introducing cases of global standards set by Korean companies in high-tech industry areas including those for wearable devices’ monitoring of heart rate and step count, explainable AI technology, and neuromorphic devices.


KATS President Jin Jong-wook assured continued support for Korean companies’ endeavors to gain a competitive edge in global standards based on the National Standardization Strategy for Advanced Industries established this May.