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Science, Technology, and Innovation in Sustainable Development Cooperation: Theories and Practices in South Korea

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International Development Cooperation of Japan and South Korea

Abstract

Science, technology, and innovation, for short STI, have been recognized as key enablers in achieving socio-economic transformation and sustainable development. In spite of its cross-cutting nature and ambiguity, growing recognition of the importance of STI has resulted in diverse policy initiatives in development cooperation. This chapter discusses South Korea’s official development assistance (ODA) policy with a focus on STI. It first provides a conceptual overview of STI and development and examines how STI has been recognized in the international development cooperation. Building on this discussion, this study investigates how STI emerged in Korea’s ODA policy and examines opportunities and challenges in current policy. In spite of potential and recognition of the importance of STI in ODA, there is still a lack of clear understanding and integrated strategies in STI-ODA in Korea. Building on the lessons from the case, implications for development policy include: improving policy integration and interlinkages between ODA and STI policies; developing national STI roadmaps and measurement framework; adopting STI for the localized applications that meet the country’s development priorities; understanding STI as socio-technical systems; and aligning STI strategies with international guidelines and local needs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, South Korea

    Kyung Ryul Park

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  1. Kyung Ryul Park
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Correspondence to Kyung Ryul Park .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea (Republic of)

    Huck-ju Kwon

  2. Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Beppu, Oita, Japan

    Tatsufumi Yamagata

  3. Hansung University, Seoul, Korea (Republic of)

    Eunju Kim

  4. Saitama University, Saitama, Japan

    Hisahiro Kondoh

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Park, K.R. (2022). Science, Technology, and Innovation in Sustainable Development Cooperation: Theories and Practices in South Korea. In: Kwon, Hj., Yamagata, T., Kim, E., Kondoh, H. (eds) International Development Cooperation of Japan and South Korea. Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-4601-0_8

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