과기정통부 "충북 청주, 방사광가속기 구축 부지로 선정"<br /><br />South Korea's science ministry has revealed the city of Cheongju is where the country will build its next-generation synchrotron radiation accelerator,... crucial technology for the next phase of the country's biotech-industry.<br />Jang Tae-hyun tells us more.<br />The Ministry of Science and ICT announced on Friday that the country's second fourth-generation synchrotron radiation accelerator will be built in Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk-do Province.<br />It was chosen because the city's solid bedrock provides an extra degree of geological safety and the city is close to Seoul.<br />There are also many other bio-research facilities in close proximity.<br />Four local governments, including Chuncheon and Pohang were hoping to host the facility, and their bids were graded based on geography, potential for development and support from the local government.<br />Costing 820-million U.S. dollars, the facility can be used to harness electrons moving at high speeds to create energy and X-ray beams.<br />It can also analyze superfine materials,... a process that can be used in the development of new advanced materials, displays and semiconductors, fueling growth in South Korea's biotech and life science sectors.<br />The accelerator can also be used to develop treatments for swine flu Tamiflu, and treatments for erectile dysfunction like Viagra.<br />"A synchrotron radiation accelerator is like a giant microscope. It analyzes the internal and external structures of the specimen."<br />This investment is expected to have nearly 5-and-a-half billion U.S. dollars of economic effects on production inducement and create around 140-thousand jobs.<br />Jang Tae-hyun, Arirang News<br />
