The government has said that the UK’s tech and science partnership with South Korea will be “pushed to new heights” with the signing of a range of new science and technology-related partnership agreements.

It added that the two countries would work closer together than ever before to harness the potential of critical technologies like AI, quantum and semiconductors to create jobs and unlock economic growth, alongside a new £4.5 million fund to create joint research and innovation partnerships.

This builds on the recent international progress on safe, responsible AI development achieved at the AI Safety Summit, the next edition of which will be co-hosted by the Republic of Korea and the UK next year, it added.

Other initiatives between the countries include a new Framework for Semiconductor Cooperation to enhance collaboration on skills, R&D, supply chain resilience and trade, and deepen industry links.

The countries also plan to develop a broad new Digital Partnership, boosting joint work in priority areas such as data, telecoms, AI and digital competition and a new Memorandum of Understanding on space cooperation, bringing the countries’ space industries closer together and “paving the way to joint space endeavours”.

“We share the same values and face the same challenges: from creating future jobs and industries fit for the AI age, to bringing the power of science to bear on climate change and supporting ageing populations,” said science, innovation and technology secretary Michelle Donelan. “As part of the new accord between our two countries, this raft of agreements will future proof our relationship for decades to come: a partnership that is already bearing fruit as we work closely together on the next AI Safety Summit.”

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