South Korea's 7 SEED Projects: Next Growth Engines After Semiconductors

South Korea has designated seven areas as national “7 SEED” growth engines meant to power the economy after semiconductors. The initiative groups small modular reactors (SMRs), nuclear fusion, space and aviation, advanced bio, renewable energy, quantum, and critical minerals/materials/components/equipment supply chains. The government, led by the Ministry of Science and ICT, presented the plan to President Lee Jae Myung during a meeting on the 12th. Goals include commercializing light-water SMRs by 2035 and starting construction of non-light-water SMRs in the 2030s. Quantum targets a domestically developed 100-qubit-level QPU by 2029, while a private lunar lander launch is planned for 2030 and an independent low-orbit satellite communications network by 2035.