The U.S. and South Korea have agreed to jointly conduct research and development programs to improve public safety during events such as disease outbreaks and natural disasters like fires, storms and flooding.
The Department of Homeland Security said Thursday that William Bryan, acting DHS undersecretary for science and technology, signed a memorandum of understanding with his counterpart Mun Mi-ock in Seoul, South Korea as part of the bilateral partnership.
“This is a great opportunity to discuss mutual challenges, shared priorities, and joint opportunities that will yield benefits and positive impact to our citizens,†said Bryan. “Both of us bring a wealth of technical expertise and creative insights, which collectively can help achieve better informed decisions on where research and development investments can and should be made.â€
Under the agreement, both nations will facilitate joint events such as researcher exchanges, conferences and other R&D activities aimed at bringing together government entities, funding bodies and academic institutions.
The signing of the MOU certifies the Republic of Korea as the DHS Science and Technology Directorate’s 13th bilateral partner and first new partner since 2013.