The 2025 STEPI Intelligence Dialogue, held on September 26 at the Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas, brought together global think tanks to exchange research findings and explore policy solutions related to key and emerging technologies (CETs). Hosted by the Science and Technology Policy Institute (STEPI) under President Ji-woong Yoon, the event featured participants from Australia, the United Kingdom, Japan, and other major partners. Discussions focused on strategic technologies such as AI, quantum, space, and semiconductors, emphasizing the challenges of maintaining industrial competitiveness, promoting allied cooperation, and stabilizing global supply chains amid intensifying U.S.–China technological rivalry.
Before the main sessions, President Yoon engaged in a special dialogue with David Wroe, Chair of The Sydney Dialogue organized by ASPI, addressing the theme, “Why Should Global Think Tanks Cooperate in the Field of National Strategic Technologies?” Yoon underscored that collaboration among national think tanks with shared democratic values can reduce international tensions and foster evidence-based policy strategies. Wroe echoed this sentiment, highlighting that partnerships such as with STEPI can evolve into a strategic alliance of policy think tanks capable of addressing the complexities of technological and security landscapes.
The main program included five thematic sessions and two independent research presentations by STEPI. Highlights included a Korea–UK joint study on Physical AI, exploring synergies between Korea’s hardware strengths and the UK’s leadership in AI ethics and governance. Another session, conducted with Japan’s Asia Pacific Research Center (APRC), analyzed quantum technology dynamics among Korea, Japan, and China, identifying opportunities for cooperation and competition based on policy, industrial trends, and patent data. These sessions emphasized the need for nuanced, data-driven approaches to strategic technology policy in East Asia.
Other collaborative efforts included research with Taiwan’s Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) on space cooperation, comparing Korea’s long-term investment and launch capabilities with Taiwan’s semiconductor-driven SME agility. Additionally, studies with the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada examined AI-driven economic cooperation, while a consortium of think tanks from key semiconductor nations presented a comparative analysis of semiconductor strategies amid the AI revolution. STEPI also previewed two forthcoming studies—on quantum workforce collaboration with Australia and China’s AI governance under U.S. sanctions—demonstrating its expanding leadership in international policy research on science and technology strategy.
