Large-Scale Meta-Analysis Confirms the Efficacy and Safety of Herbal Medicine Combination TherapyCombination Therapy with Herbal Medicine Improves Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment OutcomesA recent study has shown that combining herbal medicine with conventional treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) improves overall treatment response, including pain and inflammation reduction, while also decreasing side effects compared to using conventional medication alone.This finding comes from a large-scale meta-analysis conducted by the research team of Professors Lee Dong-heon and Jo Hee-geun from the Department of Korean Medicine at Gachon University, which analyzed the efficacy and safety of combining herbal medicine with standard RA treatments. Their study was published in the January issue of Pharmacological Research (Impact Factor: 9.1, top 3.5% in the pharmacology and pharmacy category).The research team analyzed 415 clinical trials, incorporating data from 37,839 patients, making this one of the largest studies on RA treatment to date.Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease that causes joint pain and functional impairment, potentially leading to systemic complications. While conventional medications help alleviate symptoms, some patients do not achieve sufficient treatment effects or experience adverse side effects.The study evaluated treatment efficacy using clinical indicators such as ACR 20/50/70 (symptom improvement rate), VAS (pain scale), DAS28 (disease activity score), and Rheumatoid Factor (RF). The results showed that patients who received herbal medicine in combination with conventional treatment experienced greater improvements in pain, inflammation, and overall treatment response, while also having fewer side effects compared to those using conventional medication alone.The results demonstrated that patients who received herbal medicine alongside conventional treatment experienced greater improvements in pain, inflammation, and overall treatment response, with fewer side effects.Additionally, the research team applied data analysis techniques to identify beneficial natural compounds for RA treatment and derived key medicinal herbs and their optimal combination patterns.Professor Lee Dong-heon stated, "This study confirms that combining herbal medicine with conventional treatment can be a more effective therapeutic approach for RA patients. We anticipate that these findings will contribute to the development of new treatment strategies for refractory diseases in the future."The study was supported by funding from the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

Showcasing Outstanding Achievements of P-Semester Students and Evaluating Creative Research Practical ProjectsGachon University held the 4th Project-Based Flexible Semester Student Competition on the 8th of last month at the university's main building lecture hall and took a commemorative photo.Gachon University Hosts the 4th P-Semester Student CompetitionGachon University held the 4th Project-Based Flexible Semester (P-Semester) Student Competition on the 8th of last month at the university s main building lecture hall. The competition was organized to showcase the outstanding achievements of students participating in the 2024 P-Semester program and to evaluate their creative research and practical projects.Students from five different P-Semester categories Major-Specific, Interdisciplinary, Field Internship, P-Career Catch, and International Student Track presented their team projects, incorporating creative ideas and hands-on experience. The evaluation criteria included creativity, expertise, presentation skills, and project completion, with a total score of 100 points.The grand prize was awarded to the One Bite Beyond team from the School of Business, which proposed a market entry strategy for Nongshim s Bread Manager Choco Snack in the U.S. snack market.P-Semester is one of Gachon University s flagship educational innovation programs, allowing third-year second-semester students to focus on hands-on projects for four weeks out of the 16-week semester. The program includes various project types, such as major-specific projects, interdisciplinary projects, field internships, career development, and international student projects, aiming to enhance students creative problem-solving skills and practical competencies.Professor Park Kyung-soo, Dean of Planning, stated, We will continue to support students in building competitiveness through creativity and practical experience gained in the P-Semester. Moving forward, we plan to expand industry-linked, real-world projects to further strengthen student capabilities.

Collaborating AI Technology and Curators to Innovate the Infant Product IndustryStudents from Gachon University Startup College who founded Preedus Co., Ltd. signed a business agreement with BeFe Co., Ltd. on the 6th at the COEX conference room, followed by a commemorative photo session.Gachon University Startup College student startup team, Freeders Co., Ltd. (co-CEOs Park Sang-eon and Hong Jae-hak), signed a business agreement with Befe Co., Ltd. (CEO Yang Ji-hee), the organizer of Korea s largest baby and maternity expo, at COEX Conference Room on the 6th.Through this agreement, aimed at revitalizing the baby products industry and driving consumer-centric product innovation, the two companies will enhance product quality and value through the "Befe Innovation Awards," which will be held from the 6th to the 9th at COEX. They will also work on expanding parenting communities, strengthening communication, and conducting joint marketing and promotions.Notably, parenting curators collaborating with Freeders Quedot platform will participate as the first-ever Befe Ambassadors and judges for the "Befe Innovation Awards," supporting product evaluations and promotions. Judges will include Jeong So-dam (Ttuminine), Jeong Yu-jin (Dudung Mom), Im Soo-bin (Ijun Mom), Momlingo, Jeong Seo-hee (Ttoni Mom), and Oh Chae-eun (Dagyeomine).Befe Co., Ltd., established in 1999, is a specialized exhibition and convention company that hosts Korea s largest baby fair twice a year, featuring approximately 300 domestic and international brands, leading the baby and maternity industry.Park Sang-eon and Hong Jae-hak, co-CEOs of Freeders, are currently fourth-year students at Gachon University. They founded Freeders in 2023 after receiving entrepreneurship education and hands-on mentoring through Gachon Cocone School s immersive startup semester.In December 2023, they launched Quedot, an AI-driven product comparison and curator-based commerce platform. Within just 10 months, the platform achieved a monthly revenue of 100 million KRW, with a 16.1-fold increase in transaction volume, a 420% rise in visitors, and a maximum purchase conversion rate of 18% after introducing AI-based product comparison technology. In January of this year, they officially established the corporation and are now collaborating with over 100 brands and 40 parenting curators.Freeders CEO Park Sang-eon stated, "We will provide trustworthy services to parenting consumers by combining AI product comparison technology with curator expertise."Befe Executive Director Kang Shin-dong added, "This collaboration will present a practical parenting support model in an era of low birth rates and contribute to the development of the baby products industry.

In the field of precision nutrition, a total of 10 billion KRW will be provided over five years until 2029.The project aims to establish a personalized dietary survey system for vulnerable populations and develop a big data-based precision nutrition model and guidelines.Professor Lee Hae-jung from the Department of Food and Nutrition at Gachon University has been selected for the "Establishment of a Precision Nutrition Safety Management System for Vulnerable Groups Based on Nutritional Risk Assessment" project, part of the Food Safety Infrastructure Expansion initiative organized by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Professor Lee will serve as the principal investigator for this project.The research will receive a total budget of 10 billion KRW over five years, from February 2025 to November 2029. The funding will be allocated progressively, starting with 1 billion KRW in the first year, followed by 1.5 billion KRW in the second year, and 2.5 billion KRW each year from the third to the fifth year.This study will be conducted by the "Korean Precision Nutrition Consortium," with Gachon University as the lead research institution, in collaboration with the Korea Health Industry Development Institute, Korea University, the Food Safety Information Institute, ChemInet Co., the Korea Food Research Institute, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, and the Precision Nutrition Association.Currently, South Korea s bio big data initiatives focus on collecting genomic and clinical data but lack dietary information, limiting the effectiveness of precision nutrition management. This research aims to address this gap by collecting genetic, microbiome, metabolome, environmental, lifestyle, and dietary data from vulnerable populations to establish a foundation for precision nutrition management.Professor Lee, through this study, will carry out the following: △ Establishing a special dietary survey system for vulnerable groups △ Validating dietary survey tools △ Developing and verifying survey items on dietary supplement consumption patterns △ Developing an integrated model linking omics (including genomics), microbiome, clinical information, diet, lifestyle, and dietary supplements △ Building a precision nutrition big data archive. Additionally, plans for utilizing the research outcomes after the study's completion will also be derived.Additionally, strategies for utilizing research outcomes after project completion will be explored.Professor Lee stated, "This research presents a crucial opportunity to establish a foundation for precision nutrition management tailored to vulnerable populations. By providing personalized precision nutrition guidelines, we aim to contribute to implementing customized dietary safety policies for those in need."Professor Lee is a leading researcher in South Korea s food and nutrition field, having worked on building nutritional and functional ingredient databases, developing food recognition and personalized nutrition management algorithms, conducting K-food clinical intervention and epidemiological studies, designing customized dietary plans, and evaluating functional properties. More recently, she has been exploring convergent new technologies that integrate nanotechnology into the food industry. She was also elected as a full member of the Korean Academy of Science and Technology.

A turning point in the development of high-capacity, high-stability batteries, contributing to achieving a 1,000 km range for electric vehiclesGachon University Ph.D. student Na Sungmin (Department of Mechanical Engineering, ECSS Lab under Professor Park Kwangjin) and Professor Park Kyungsoo s research team at DIGST have jointly conducted a study, which was published on the 9th in ACS Nano (Impact Factor 15.8), a globally renowned journal in the field. The paper is titled "Formation Cycle Control for Enhanced Structural Stability of Ni-Rich LiNixCoyMn1-x-yO2 Cathodes."This study identifies the degradation mechanism of Ni-rich NCM, a next-generation cathode material gaining attention for electric vehicles, and proposes a solution to overcome it. The cathode material significantly impacts the capacity, lifespan, and charging speed of lithium-ion batteries and is one of the most expensive components in battery manufacturing.Ni-rich NCM offers over 50% higher capacity than conventional lithium cobalt oxide (LCO) and has relatively lower production costs, making it a key candidate for next-generation EV battery cathodes being developed by global automakers such as Hyundai Motor Company and Tesla. However, due to durability issues, repeated charge-discharge cycles have led to particle cracking, rapid capacity degradation, and gas emissions, raising safety concerns.The research team identified the causes of performance degradation and gas generation through advanced analytical techniques. Unlike conventional doping and surface treatment methods, they proposed a strategy to precisely control voltage during the initial activation phase, preventing structural collapse of the cathode material without requiring additional processing.This breakthrough is expected to serve as a turning point in the development of high-capacity, high-safety batteries, contributing to the realization of electric vehicles with a 1,000km driving range in the future.

"This innovative technology in battery manufacturing processes will be a key turning point for commercialization."Professor Choi Jeonghyun from the Department of Chemical and Biological Battery Engineering at Gachon University and Professor Ryu Wonhee from the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Sookmyung Women's University (from left to right in the photo).Professor Choi Jeonghyun's research team from the Department of Chemical and Biological Battery Engineering at Gachon University, in collaboration with Professor Ryu Wonhee's research team from the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Sookmyung Women's University, has recently succeeded in developing a high-efficiency anode for lithium-ion batteries with high energy density. The research utilized the dry process, a promising battery manufacturing technique, to significantly improve electrochemical stability and mechanical durability.As countries strengthen regulations to achieve carbon neutrality and the transition to electric vehicles (EVs) accelerates in the transportation sector, EVs still face limitations in driving range. To address this, technological innovations are needed to increase energy density and ensure cost competitiveness.In battery manufacturing, the traditional binder used, PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), caused irreversible reactions with lithium ions in the anode during charging, leading to a decrease in battery performance. However, the research team successfully enhanced the stability of PTFE by introducing an anode additive, stabilizing the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI). This led to an improvement in initial efficiency by over 7%, achieving an initial efficiency of 92.4% compared to the previous dry-based anode, thus solving the PTFE binder degradation issue that had hindered the commercialization of dry electrode technology.The research team utilized a dry process to achieve excellent performance even with thick electrodes of 10mAh/cm², which are difficult to achieve with wet processes. This brings the dry process closer to practical application. The dry process, which does not require a drying step, is an innovative technology that can reduce manufacturing costs and time. The research confirmed that the dry process can be successfully applied not only to the anode but also to the cathode.The results of this research will be published in the world-renowned chemical engineering journal Chemical Engineering Journal (IF: 13.3) in January, under the title "Anode Interface Stabilization Dry Process for Ultra-Thin and Durable Battery Electrodes Using a Dual Binder System."Professor Choi Jeonghyun commented, "The dry process technology is an innovative breakthrough that overcomes the limitations of traditional battery manufacturing processes. This research will be a crucial turning point for commercialization. By enabling high-efficiency battery manufacturing, it can significantly contribute to the sustainable growth of the battery market."This research was supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT's Global Young Connect Program and the Mid-Career Researcher Follow-up Program.Glossary:Irreversible: Refers to a phenomenon that cannot be reversed. In the context of batteries, it means when the electrode material permanently changes, leading to a decrease in performance.PTFE (Poly Tetra Fluoro Ethylene) Binder: A binder that imparts mechanical properties to electrodes manufactured through the dry process.SEI (Solid Electrolyte Interphase): The interface layer formed on the surface of battery electrodes.Contact: Professor Choi Jeonghyun's research lab at Gachon University, 031-750-5599.

Gachon University Invites Leading Experts, Including Professor Shirley Meng from the University of Chicago, to Discuss the Future of Secondary BatteriesThe symposium will explore the future and development directions of secondary batteries, as well as Gachon University's strategies for specializing in secondary battery researchGachon University held the "Future of Secondary Battery Technology" International Symposium on the 9th at the University Convention Center and took a commemorative photo.□ artcl: https://www.ytn.co.kr/_ln/0115_202501091435370327On January 9, 2025, Gachon University held its second international symposium, titled "The Future of Secondary Battery Technology," at the University Convention Center, with over 300 attendees, including researchers from government-funded research institutes and companies in the secondary battery field.The event was co-hosted by Gachon University, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Ministry of Education, the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT), and the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF). The symposium invited world-renowned experts in secondary battery technology to discuss the future and development directions of secondary batteries, aiming to accelerate Gachon University's specialization in the field.The event began with a welcoming address by Gachon University Vice President Yoon Wonjoong and was conducted in two sessions: the first session, "Pioneering Innovations in Battery Technologies and Materials," and the second session, "The Future of Energy Driven by Next-Generation Batteries. Professor Shirley Meng from the University of Chicago is delivering a presentation on the topic "All Solid State Battery A Platform for New Materials Discovery and Design. In the first session, world-renowned scholar Professor Y. Shirley Meng from the University of Chicago presented on "All Solid State Battery A Platform for New Materials Design and Discovery." Following her presentation, Professor Jeong Yoonseok from Yonsei University spoke on "Issues and Perspectives of High-Energy All-Solid-State Batteries," and Dr. Lee Jaehun from LG Energy Solution delivered a presentation on "LG Energy Solution s Advanced Battery Technologies."In the second session, Professor Shirley Meng returned to the stage to give a talk on "Tera Watt-Hour Energy Transition The Race for Better Battery," presenting a vision for next-generation battery technology. Dr. Yoo Jisang from the Korea Electronics Technology Institute (KETI) followed with a presentation on "Recent Progress in Sulfide-Based All Solid State Battery R D in KETI," sharing the latest research achievements and prospects.Professor Shirley Meng, with over 320 published papers and an H-index of 115, has been globally recognized for her scientific contributions. She has received prestigious awards such as the 2022 C3E Technology and Innovation Award, the 2023 Battery Research Award from the Electrochemical Society, and the 2024 Drexel House Memorial Lecture Award. She is also a fellow of the Materials Research Society (MRS) and the Electrochemical Society (ECS), making her a leading expert in the field of energy storage systems.Gachon University established the Battery Engineering major in 2022 and enrolled its first cohort in 2023, specializing in technology-intensive education for the secondary battery field and training key personnel in the industry. The university also created a project-based learning environment, including hands-on laboratories and dry rooms. In 2023, the Ministry of Education's allocation for advanced fields increased by 50 students, bringing the total enrollment to 100.In addition, Gachon University was selected for the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy's collaborative secondary battery industry technology workforce development project in 2022 and the Ministry of Education and National Research Foundation's advanced field innovation convergence university project in 2023. The "Secondary Battery Innovation Convergence University" (led by Professor Kim Iltai and Associate Dean Professor Chae Obyeong) focuses on training talent in five specialized areas: secondary battery materials/analysis, manufacturing/processes, diagnostics/safety, equipment/systems, and resource recycling.Gachon University Vice President Yoon Wonjoong welcomed attendees and stated, This symposium has been organized to share the latest research results and industry trends by inviting experts from both domestic and international secondary battery fields. I hope this will be a meaningful time for participants to exchange ideas, share experiences, and engage in lively discussions.

Establishing a Korea-Japan Youth Entrepreneur Community to Solve Shared Social Issues in East AsiaScenes from the "2025 GCSC" Startup Camp EventFrom January 8 to 13, Gachon University is hosting the "2025 Global College Startup Camp (GCSC)" at the AI Building on its Global Campus, bringing together 80 university students from Korea and Japan.This global startup camp, co-hosted by Gachon University and Japan's Hitotsubashi University and sponsored by Cocone One and Shinhan Financial Group, aims to foster creative ideas from students of both countries to address social issues in East Asia.The "2025 GCSC" focuses on forming mixed teams of Korean and Japanese students to propose innovative solutions to shared challenges in East Asia, such as population issues (aging, low birthrates, regional depopulation) and climate issues (global warming, environmental destruction, food crises).To achieve this, the camp offers a variety of programs, including team activities, startup idea presentations, expert mentoring, global networking, and cultural exchange activities. Participants will have the opportunity to share perspectives and solutions to common issues faced by both countries, gaining a deeper understanding of the universal and unique aspects of global social problems while developing their entrepreneurial and collaborative skills.Scenes from the "2025 GCSC" Startup Camp EventThe camp kicked off with congratulatory remarks from Lim Jungwook, Director-General of Startup and Venture Innovation at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, and a welcome address by Jang Daik, Dean of Gachon University s Startup College. It features lectures by leading experts in population and climate issues, along with various interactive sessions.Today's lectures included presentations by Professor Cho Youngtae from Seoul National University, Jung Wonsik, Investment Manager at D3 Jubilee Partners, Cho Heejung, Deputy Director of The Possible Institute, Lee Sanghyup, Director of the National Green Technology Research Institute, Choi Kyunghee, CEO of Sopoong Connect, and Nam Jaejak, Director of the Korea Precision Agriculture Research Institute. These sessions focused on East Asia s population and climate challenges. On the third day, sessions will include a social data science lecture by Professors Naohiro Shichijo and Wenzhen Xu from Hitotsubashi University in Japan, as well as a lecture on entrepreneurial psychology by Professor Lisa Son from Columbia University in the United States.Mentoring sessions are led by the Gachon Cocone School faculty, along with renowned startup experts such as former D.Camp CEO Kim Youngdeok, former Cyworld founder Lee Donghyung, Impact Square CEO Do Hyunmyung, and former Baemin co-founder Park Ilhan. These mentors will help participants refine and develop their ideas.On the final day of the camp, team presentations will take place, followed by a special lecture by Jeong Kyungseon, Executive Director of Hyundai Marine Fire Insurance, and an awards ceremony, concluding the six-day, five-night journey.Scenes from the "2025 GCSC" Startup Camp EventJang Daik, Dean of Startup College, stated, The 2025 GCSC offers a unique opportunity for Korean and Japanese university students to collaborate in solving shared social issues while demonstrating entrepreneurship and cooperative leadership. Through this camp, we will actively support participants in growing into leaders who will spearhead the East Asian entrepreneurial community. Gachon Cocone School, established in 2022 as part of Gachon University's Startup College, operates immersive entrepreneurship semester programs (Entrepreneurship as a minor) as well as dual- and single-major entrepreneurship programs. Through systematic entrepreneurship education, the school has been at the forefront of producing promising startups and nurturing entrepreneurs.Starting with this camp, Gachon Cocone School plans to develop a sustainable cooperation model aimed at fostering an East Asian entrepreneurial community.

Gachon University's College of Semiconductor Engineering held the 1st COSF at the Gachon Convention Hall on the 18th and took a commemorative photo.Gachon University's College of Semiconductor Engineering successfully hosted the 1st COSF (College of Semiconductor Forum) at the Gachon Convention Hall on the 18th.Co-organized by the College of Semiconductor Engineering and its inaugural student council, the forum was held to enhance students' practical experience and problem-solving skills, foster the exchange of knowledge and ideas between juniors and seniors, and promote academic achievement and personal development.The forum began with an opening address by Lee Sangryeol, Dean of the College of Semiconductor Engineering, followed by final presentations. A total of seven teams four in the creative category and three in the major category who passed the first preliminary round, presented the results of their approximately three-month-long projects.The judging panel included Professor Kim Taekyung of the Next-Generation Semiconductor Design Major, Professor Oh Hyunseok and Professor Son Jaechul of the Semiconductor Design Department, and Professor Jang Youngjin of the Semiconductor Display Department.The grand prize in the major category was awarded to the "How to Avoid the Sun" team (Park Dayeon, Kim Hyejin, Jo Gyeonghun from the Electronic Engineering Major, and Yang Heechang from the Next-Generation Semiconductor Major) for their study on "The Characteristics of WO3 Thin Films Based on Oxygen Partial Pressure."The excellence awards were given to the "Quantum Leap" team (Lee Dohee from the Next-Generation Semiconductor Major and Lee Kanghyeok, Hwang Jubin, Kim Hyunjeong from the Electronic Engineering Major) for their project on "FSM Design and FPGA-based Simon Game" in the major category, and the "Focus On Basic" team (Jo Junyong and Lee Hyunseok from the Electronic Engineering Major, and Ahn Yeop and Jang Jinyong from the Next-Generation Semiconductor Major) for their development of the "Four Bit Adder with Buffer Reinforced Gate" in the creative category. Other teams received awards for excellence and honorable mention.Dean Lee Sangryeol expressed his hopes that "COSF will become an annual tradition, serving as a platform for fostering academic growth, creative ideas, and collaboration among students," adding, "We plan to support academic growth and innovation through various academic events and programs where students can take the lead."

Inspiring future generations through challenge and innovation, contributing to the advancement of engineering technology in South Korea On the 17th, Gachon University President Lee Gilya (pictured right) is receiving the honorary member plaque of the Korean Academy of Engineering from Chairman Kim Gi-nam (pictured left) and taking a commemorative photo.□ artcle: https://www.chosun.com/national/education/2024/12/18/PLFL6XNP2NFUZFSPYVNAUATRBQ/?utm_source=naver utm_medium=referral utm_campaign=naver-newsOn December 17, 2024, Gachon University President Lee Gilya was elected as the first honorary member of the Korean Academy of Engineering at the "55th Annual General Meeting and Honorary Member Induction Ceremony," held at the Dynasty Hall of the Shilla Hotel in Seoul, hosted by the Korean Academy of Engineering (Chairman Kim Gi-nam).The Korean Academy of Engineering established the honorary member system to honor individuals who have made significant contributions to the nation's industry, economy, and society, and elected President Lee as its first honorary member.Presentation of the Honorary Member Plaque from the Korean Academy of Engineering.Chairman Kim Gi-nam, in his induction speech, said, "Constant challenges and innovations have greatly inspired future generations and contributed significantly to the advancement of engineering technology in South Korea," as he presented the honorary member plaque to President Lee.President Lee has been a leader in medical and educational innovation and the advancement of medical science through his management of Gachon University, Gachon University Gil Hospital, and the Gachon Gil Foundation.As the founder of Gachon University Gil Hospital, President Lee pioneered numerous firsts, including the opening of Lee Gilya Obstetrics and Gynecology in Incheon in 1958, the establishment of the first nonprofit medical corporation by a female doctor, the introduction of the country's first ultrasound equipment, hospital computerization, operation of the Doctor Helicopter and regional trauma centers, and the implementation of the Watson AI system, continuing a legacy of innovation.Furthermore, through the establishment of Gachon University School of Medicine, the integration of four universities within the foundation, the creation of AI and semiconductor departments, and the operation of an "engineering-focused university," President Lee has led innovations in university education. His contributions also include advancing medical science through the operation of the Gachon Brain Science Institute, Lee Gilya Cancer Diabetes Research Institute, Gachon Bio-Nano Research Institute, and the selection of the university as one of the top three research-focused hospitals by the government.President Lee Gilya is delivering a speech at the honorary member induction ceremony of the Korean Academy of Engineering.In his induction speech, President Lee Gilya said, "I have lived passionately for the past 90 years with a heart full of love for humanity and a spirit of innovation." He continued, "As an honorary member of the Korean Academy of Engineering, I will contribute to the goals that the Academy aims to achieve and do my best for the advancement of engineering, as well as for the sustainable growth of our society and the well-being of humanity."The Korean Academy of Engineering, established in 1996 as a special corporation, aims to identify and recognize outstanding engineers who have made significant contributions to the advancement of engineering and technology in academia, industry, and government institutions. The Academy also supports academic research and initiatives related to engineering and technology to contribute to the nation's creative technological development and continued progress.