South Korea Joins NATO's STO S&T for Advanced Research Collaboration

The Republic of Korea became an official partner of NATO's Science & Technology Organization (STO) Science & Technology (S&T) Enhanced Partnership. The partnership is geared towards increasing common research and development in advanced scientific and technological fields.

As an S&T Enhanced Partner, South Korea will be an energetic member of the NATO S&T Board that provides strategic guidance regarding cooperative scientific investigation. It will also support high-priority areas of research in medicine, sensing, cybersecurity, propulsion, and power systems.

Apart from South Korea, Switzerland and Ukraine joined the STO S&T Enhanced Partnership on the same day as well. It is a historical achievement in the efforts of NATO to advance global scientific cooperation. Australia was the initial country to be awarded S&T Partner status in 2015, with Japan joining in 2020.

 NATO Chief Scientist Dr. Bryan Wells welcomed the new partners and said, "The NATO S&T Organization has long had a strong tradition of developing close ties with NATO Partners. Adding the Republic of Korea, Switzerland, and Ukraine to Australia and Japan is a step change in our outreach."

The newly inducted partners will attend their first-ever NATO S&T Board meeting in Brussels early in April, during which they will discuss future cooperative projects.