Definition of
the Project
K-Health MIRAE Initiative is an initiative designed to drive challenging, innovative, and timely R&D in healthcare innovation. Its goal is to fundamentally improve public health and welfare by tackling global health challenges.
- * This includes issues like global pandemics such as COVID-19, unconquered diseases like cancer and rare diseases, and crises in essential medical services.
- * The project supports the development of creative and challenging problem-solving technologies by leveraging collective intelligence. It does this by presenting only the problems that need solving, without imposing restrictions on technology, specifications, or development methods.
Background
Shortening Pandemic Cycles
- During the COVID-19 pandemic, South Korea experienced a significant surge in initial infection and mortality rates when the Omicron variant emerged. This was largely due to the delayed support for vaccine development and a slower rollout of vaccinations compared to more developed nations that had successfully developed their own vaccines.
- The shortening pandemic cycles suggest that health security threats from infectious diseases are becoming a constant and persistent concern.
Growing Burden of Unconquered Diseases
- The socio-economic burden from diseases like cancer and rare/intractable illnesses is rapidly increasing.
- Over 50,000 new rare disease patients are registered annually, with a notable rise in ultra-rare disease patients (those with a prevalence of under 200 in Korea)—from 775 in 2019 to 1,767 in 2020.
- Furthermore, the disease burden from mental illness and suicide is projected to reach KRW 8.6 trillion by 2030, fueling social unrest and eroding social cohesion.
Intensifying Global Competition in Bio-Health
- Major countries, including the United States, recognize securing a lead in bio-health technology as central to national security and economic prosperity. With a few key companies increasingly dominating the global market, there's a competitive surge in investments aimed at securing innovative technologies.
Need to Prepare for a Super-Aged Society
- South Korea is experiencing significant demographic shifts, including its entry into a super-aged society in 2025. This trend exacerbates social issues like increased demand for elder care and a heavier burden of medical expenses, putting a greater strain on the entire health and welfare system.
Need for Essential Healthcare Innovation
- Increase in deaths within the 'golden hour' due to insufficient capacity for severe and emergency response, leading to patients not receiving appropriate treatment in time.
- Problems arising from the burden of medical malpractice, such as a sharp decline in applicants for essential medical specialties, and the aging of specialists in essential fields.