Korea Institute of Science and Technology - History

History

The Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) was established in 1966 under the auspices of Korean and US governments. The mission of KIST was to assume a central role as the first comprehensive research agency for the promotion of the nation’s economic growth and the modernization of engineering fields. It has since developed into the foremost R&D organization and the foundation of technological development in Korea. By concentrating on urgently needed technological development during the early stages of Korea’s industrialization, KIST contributed to the modernization of industry and helped push ahead a period of rapid, remarkable economic growth for Korea. In addition, over the years KIST has produced a pool of premier S&T talent and spun-off numerous specialized research institutes. These accomplishments have guaranteed its continued role as Korea’s leading S&T institute.

May 18, 1965 Presidents of Korea and the U.S. issue joint statements on founding a Korean industrial technology and applied sciences research institute
Feb. 10, 1966 KIST is founded and formally registered
Oct. 23, 1969 Building completion ceremony is held for the opening of KIST
Feb. 1971 Korea’s first desktop and pocket-size calculators are developed
Nov. 23, 1971 Korea’s first U.S. patent registration is filed
Jul. 20, 1972 Korea’s first color TV is developed
Oct. 13, 1975 Sejong No. 1, the first nationally developed mini-computer, begins operating
Jan. 5, 1981 KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology) is established by integrating KIST and KAIS (Korea Advanced Institute of Science)
Apr. 1985 Aramid fibers are developed to replace asbestos and technology is transferred to KOLON
Sep. 1988 Doping tests are conducted at the ’88 Seoul Olympic Games by the KIST Doping Control Center
Jun. 12, 1989 Separates from KAIST and is re-established as KIST (Korea Institute of Science and Technology)
Feb. 16, 1996 KIST Europe is established
Jan. 29, 1999 Becomes a member of the Korea Research Council of Fundamental Science and Technology (KRCF) under the Office of the Prime Minister
Jul. 30, 1999 Centaur, Korea’s first humanoid robot, is created
Oct. 10, 2001 Inauguration ceremony is held for the KIST International R&D Academy (IRDA)
May 1, 2003 KIST Gangneung is established
Dec. 24, 2003 KIST Linux cluster supercomputer begins operating
Sep. 23, 2004 Is reassigned as a member of KRCF under the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology
Dec. 28, 2005 Becomes Korea’s first S&T institute to install the 900 MHz NMR system
Nov. 4, 2006 Dr. Hee-sup Shin is named Korea’s first National Honor Scientist
Jan. 1, 2008 KIST Jeonbuk is established
Sep. 16, 2009 Becomes the world’s first institute to develop spin-transistor technology (core of the next-generation semiconductor industry)

Read more about this topic:  Korea Institute Of Science And Technology

Famous quotes containing the word history:

    I cannot be much pleased without an appearance of truth; at least of possibility—I wish the history to be natural though the sentiments are refined; and the characters to be probable, though their behaviour is excelling.
    Frances Burney (1752–1840)

    Whenever we read the obscene stories, the voluptuous debaucheries, the cruel and torturous executions, the unrelenting vindictiveness, with which more than half the Bible is filled, it would be more consistent that we called it the word of a demon than the Word of God. It is a history of wickedness that has served to corrupt and brutalize mankind.
    Thomas Paine (1737–1809)

    Boys forget what their country means by just reading “the land of the free” in history books. Then they get to be men, they forget even more. Liberty’s too precious a thing to be buried in books.
    Sidney Buchman (1902–1975)