Aug / 2010 Jul / 2010 Jun / 2010 May / 2010 Apr / 2010 Mar / 2010 Feb / 2010 Jan / 2010 Dec / 2009 Nov / 2009 Oct / 2009 Sep / 2009 Aug / 2009 Jul / 2009 Jun / 2009 May / 2009 Apr / 2009 Mar / 2009 Feb / 2009 Jan / 2009 Dec / 2008 Nov / 2008 Oct / 2008 Sep / 2008 Aug / 2008 Jul / 2008 Jun / 2008 May / 2008 Apr / 2008 Mar / 2008 Feb / 2008 Jan / 2008 Dec / 2007 Nov / 2007 Oct / 2007 Sep / 2007 Aug / 2007 Jul / 2007 Jun / 2007 May / 2007 Apr / 2007 Mar / 2007 Feb / 2007 Jan / 2007 Dec / 2006 Nov / 2006 Oct / 2006 Sep / 2006 Aug / 2006 Jul / 2006 Jun / 2006   Newsletter  〉 R&D Seminar and Forum December 8th, 2009 Jan / 2010 The European Union Chamber of Commerce in Korea (EUCCK) and the Ministry of Knowledge Economy (MKE) jointly presented a conference on R&D in Korea on 8 December in the Lotte Hotel, Seoul. The event also included a luncheon with Mr. Dong-Geun Lee, Deputy Minister for Trade and Investment Policy at the MKE, and recipient of the 2009 Responsible Partner Award at the annual EU-Korea Industrial Cooperation Day ceremony. The morning seminar featured presentations by a number of European companies, including event sponsors Schneider Electric Korea and Merck Advanced Technologies Ltd. Following opening and congratulatory remarks by EUCCK President Jean-Marie Hurtiger and EU Ambassador Brian McDonald, seminar host Mr. Jonathon Holmes introduced Mr. Chung Dae Jin from the MKE, who outlined Korea’s current R&D situation and policy direction. Highlights of the morning seminar included a presentation from Eric Leger, Country Manager for Schneider Electric Korea. Mr. Leger described Schneider Electric’s experience in setting up an R&D centre in Korea that is fully integrated with the company’s global operations. One of the strengths of Schneider Electric’s model is its collaborations with university research teams around the world, a strategy also used in Korea by Rolls Royce, as described by their Regional Director Alex Jun. During the luncheon session, Deputy Minister Lee Dong-Geun further elaborated on Korea’s R&D policies, and recognised the important contribution made to technological development by the European business community in Korea. The afternoon forum session was hosted by Mr. William Choi from CB Williams, who linked the themes of developing Korea’s R&D competitiveness and developing a robust IP creation environment. Mr. Choi also provided continuity with the morning sessions by putting many of the details discussed by the participants in the context of national and global efforts to develop and commercialise new green technologies. The forum featured a number of short presentations from industry experts at Watson Wyatt, Pasteur Institute Korea and Renault Samsung Motors, as well as government insights from Deputy Director Lee Hakjin from the Korea Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) and a legal perspective from Mr. Cheol Hwan Kim, a partner at Yulchon Attorney’s at Law. Each presentation was followed by a discussion including expert opinions from the assembled panel of Mr. Peter Jager, President of Novatis Korea, Deputy Director Lee from KIPO, Mr. S.H. Kim from Invest Korea and Mr. Chung, Dong Jun, Deputy Director of the International Cooperation Policy Division at the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology. Both the seminar and forum sessions covered details about how European firms are contributing to the development of a genuinely innovative R&D environment in Korea, supported by accommodating government policies. The themes discussed at the conference will be pursued throughout 2010 by the EUCCK. In particular, the IPR, E2 and Pharmaceuticals Committees place a strong emphasis on technological innovation, R&D and IP protection strategies. These are elements are important to both the EUCCK and MKE, and we look forward to future successful collaboration between the EU and Korea.