September 3-6, 2020



Dear Friends:

I am pleased to extend my warmest greetings to everyone participating in the 2020 Canada-Korea Conference on Science and Technology.

This annual conference offers a wonderful opportunity for scientists and engineers to collaborate, share information, and discuss the latest developments in science and technology. I am certain that delegates will benefit from the activities planned for this conference and will appreciate the opportunity to network with their peers.

I would like to thank the organizers for putting together an informative program for everyone in attendance. I would also like to commend participants for their dedication to advancing innovation in the fields of science and technology.

Please accept my best wishes for a productive conference.

Sincerely,

August 2020



GREETINGS ON BEHALF OF THE HONOURABLE YONAH MARTIN

I am honoured to extend my sincere greetings to all those participating at the 2020 Canada- Korea Conference on Science and Technology Conference. We can all find hope and inspiration in taking part in this virtual ceremony in the midst of these challenging and unprecedented times.

For over 34 years, the Association of Korean-Canadian Scientists and Engineers (AKCSE), has been providing support and opportunities for Korean-Canadian scientists and engineers and contributing to the enhancement of the field of science and technology for both Canada and Korea. They have become a wealth of knowledge and leadership in the field of science and technology, and to their community.

To all of the participants at this year’s conference, I commend you for your passion and dedication to enriching the field of science and technology and providing diverse and enlightening discussions and knowledge to this conference as well as your field of expertise for Canada, Korea and around the world.

On behalf of the Senate of Canada, best wishes for a productive conference and continued success to you all!

Sincerely,

Dear respected scientists and engineers,

I am Kiyoung Choi, Minister of Science and ICT of Republic of Korea.

First of all, I send my sincere congratulations on the 10th anniversary of the Canada-Korea Conference on Science and Technology (CKC).

I would like to convey my profound gratitude to President Wooil LEE of the Korean Federation of Science and Technology Societies and President Jeongwoo KIM of the Korean-Canadian Scientists and Engineers Association as well as everyone involved in organizing this event despite the hardship and difficulties arisen from the COVID-19 pandemic. I would also like to extend my gratitude to the scientists and engineers from both countries for gladly stepping up to share knowledge.

As COVID-19 began early this year and still persists, some experts predict that we may have to co-exist with COVID-19 in the future. Our daily lives are becoming ‘contact-less’ with the digitalization of entire economies and societies, and accordingly, the world is fast approaching an era of new normal.

Every nation in the world is focusing on investing in its ability to fight the economic crisis triggered by COVID-19 and climate change caused by global warming. The government of Republic of Korea also announced the ‘Korean New Deal’ policy last July. President Jae-In Moon emphasized that the Korean New Deal is to ‘design the next 100 years.’ It is a project of great national transformation and an aspiration for Korea to take the lead in creating a whole new world for all.

First, Korea plans to expand the full-scale digital transformation based on ICT infrastructure, one of Korea’s biggest strengths, and to accelerate the transition to low-carbon and eco-friendly green economy by investing 160 trillion won by 2025. Korea also plans to further solidify its foundation as a people-centered inclusive nation through enhanced social safety net, while alleviating inequality resulting from the economic restructuring.

Throughout history, Korea has demonstrated its wisdom and potential by turning crisis into opportunity. Again, Korea will do its utmost to become a leading nation well-prepared for the post-COVID-19 era.

I have been told the focus of this year’s CKC event will be the prospects of the future society with increasing uncertainty and the ways of responding to such uncertainties through scientific and technological innovation. I believe it is a very timely and suitable topic. The role of scientists and engineers in proposing the directions to the future with rational intellect and scientific approach is more important than ever. I anticipate various solutions to be proposed during this event, and those solutions will help enrich the lives of people from both nations and lead the humanity to a sustainable future.

Since the Agreement for Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation was signed in 2016, Korea and Canada have been seeking ways to cooperate in the future-leading fields of AI, aerospace, clean technology and so forth. I urge both Canadian and Korean scientists and engineers to act as a strong bridge in developing partnership and cooperation for scientific and technological innovation. The Ministry of Science and ICT will stand with you and provide strong support in promoting the development and cooperation between the two nations.

Once again, I would like to congratulate the hosting of CKC 2020 and wish all the best for you and your loved ones. Thank you.

September 2020



Dear distinguished guests from Korea and Canada,

On behalf of the National Research Council of Science and Technology (NST) of Korea, I would like to extend my warmest greetings to all of you attending the 2020 Canada-Korea Conference on Science & Technology (CKC 2020).

This year, the world is experiencing unprecedented challenges from COVID-19. While many international activities have been canceled or postponed due to this pandemic, Canada-Korea Conference has surprised us again by making its traditional event into a virtual one.

Facing the difficult times in COVID-19, the ability to adjust to a “new normal” has become a key element to surviving the crisis. In this regard, the Association of Korean-Canadian Scientists and Engineers (AKCSE) shows us the best example of what an agile organization is. NST with 25 Korean government-funded research institutes (GRIs) is also making every endeavor to flexibly respond to the problem from the early stage of the epidemic.

In fight against COVID-19, science and technology is the key element to overcome coronavirus. Under the timely theme of ‘ST&I Collaboration for an agile future’, I sincerely hope that the conference will help prepare us all for necessary information, insights, and wisdom to be agile through these new and challenging times.

Stay put, stay safe, stay healthy.

Sincerely,

Dear CKC 2020 Guests and Participants:

August 11, 2020



It is my sincere pleasure to welcome you all to the 2020 Canada-Korea Conference on Science and Technology. First of all, I would like to say thank you to Jeong Woo Kim, the president of the Association of Korean-Canadian Scientists and Engineers (AKCSE), who has made efforts to hold this conference online this year in spite of all the difficulties due to COVID-19. I look forward to having a chance to see the participants in person in the near future.

As you know, by every measure, 2020 has been an unprecedented year for all of us. The need for closer and more extensive scientific and technological collaboration is needed now more than ever, as we try to contain the ongoing pandemic and race to develop effective therapeutics and vaccines to help fight against COVID-19. You may have heard the saying: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” We have witnessed first-hand how vulnerable we are in the absence of a coordinated international response to the pandemic. That is why Korea has been working closely with likeminded partners, including Canada, to exchange information on best practices, and to step up efforts to maintain international air and trade links, in order to stabilize global supply chains and achieve a global economic recovery.

As the global economy undergoes seismic technological changes, Canada and Korea, as part of the ‘Digital 9’ or ‘D9’ for short, continue to share world-class digital practices, identify improvements to digital services, and collaborate to solve common problems. We all know, common problems require common solutions – this is where the CKC comes in. The CKC makes much needed collaboration between our two countries possible. Let us not forget that Korea excels at introducing new technologies to the marketplace, and Canada remains a world leader in basic research. Clearly we have a symbiotic relationship – so the question remains: how do we capitalize on this?

One avenue would be to increase people-to-people exchanges between Canadian and Korean universities – particularly in the field of Artificial Intelligence. The ability to solve complex global problems will increasingly rely on advancements in AI; and both countries are well positioned to lead in this rapidly expanding field. Collaboration should not end there, but it should continue on all fronts – and certainly the CKC is the perfect venue to further these discussions. So let us continue to reach out, engage, and search for joint solutions. The international community needs solutions now more than ever.

With that said, I would like to convey my appreciation to all the organizers who have worked so hard to make this year’s conference a success. I wish you all a most enlightening and engaging conference.