R&D     This brief introduction to catalysis-related activities will close with a somewhat larger picture of Korea’s total R & D efforts. Korea has been devoting an increasing portion of her GDP toward R & D expenditures during the past two decades. After reaching 1% of GDP in 1982, it kept rising until it reached 2% in 1991, 2.5% in 1995, and has remained above 2.5% ever since, which is one of the highest among the OECD member countries. Considering that Korean economy has experienced one of the fastest growths in the world during the past few decades, this increase in R&D outlay is significant. In terms of the government expenditure, 4% of the national budget is earmarked for R&D, and it is scheduled to increase to 5% by the year 2002. R&D manpower per 1000 in the labor force is approaching 5, which is quite close to the average for the G7 nations.     1. Research Center for Catalytic Technology (RCCT), Pohang RCCT with headquarters located at the Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) was designated as Engineering Research Center (ERC) by the Korea Science and Engineering Foundation and has been functioning as a consortium of university professors. In addition to 5 POSTECH professors, there are about 20 other professors located in several major universities, all engaged in catalysis research with a total research manpower of about 100 personnel, mostly graduate students (M.S., Ph.D. candidates) and several postdoctoral researchers. In 1999, 10 Ph.D. and 24 M.S. degrees were produced by the consortium participants, with a total publication of 101 papers (58 of them in SCI journals). Research activities encompass fundamentals, petrochemicals, polymers, C1 chemistry and fine chemicals. Adequate state-of-the-art analytical instruments are available including a 2 GeV Synchrotron Radiation Source located at POSTECH. 2. Center for Molecular Catalysis (CMC), Seoul CMC located at Seoul National University was designated as Science Research Center (SRC) by the Korea Science and Engineering Foundation and has been the center for research on mostly homogeneous catalysis. Twenty professors and more than 100 graduate students carry out researches on biological, biomimetic, inorganic and electrochemical catalysts. Examples of the research subjects are artificial enzymes and receptors, catalytic mechanism of metalloenzymes, analysis of the three-dimensional structure of biological catalysts, synthesis of supramolecular complexes, synthetic studies of organometallic catalysts, chiral catalysts for asymmetric synthesis, and charge transfer processes in photo-catalysis. 3. Institute of Chemical Processes (ICP), Seoul ICP is linked with School of Chemical Engineering of Seoul National University, the first department to initiate chemical engineering education in Korea more than 50 years ago. Five professors, 6 post-doctoral researchers and 63 graduate students carry out researches on metallocene and Ziegler-Natta catalysts, heteropolyacid and perovskite catalysts for partial oxidation and isomerization, catalytic membrane reactor, deNOx and HDS catalysts, zeolite synthesis, selective hydrogenation, fuel-cell electrode catalysts, base catalysts, photo-catalysis for water splitting, and synthesis of microporous materials. ICP supported by the Government and industries has initiated many programs to introduce emerging technologies to catalysis area. 4. Departments of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology(KAIST), Taejon KAIST has been the leading research institute in Korea not only in catalytic science and engineering but also in the major areas of science and technology since its establishment in 1973. More than 100 PhD's were graduated for their works on catalysis. Catalysis research is actively pursued by five faculty members in departments of chemical engineering and chemistry. The Environmental Catalysis Laboratory and the Nano-materials Laboratory have recently been nominated as National Research Laboratories by the Government. Examples of research subjects are synthesis and characterization of zeolite and new microporous materials such as KIT-1 and carbon molecular sieves, catalysis for C1 chemistry, synthesis of specialty polymers using Ziegler-Natta or metallocene catalysts, hydrotreating catalysts for HDS, HDN, HDW or HDM, and deNOx catalysts. 5. The Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul KIST is the Government-established institute carrying out researches for bridging universities and local industries. In 1970s, it commercialized successfully catalytic processes for the synthesis of malonic esters and CFC’s based on self-developed technology. Twelve principal investigators of Ph.D. level and about 20 researchers of M.S. level are working on areas including preparation of aerogel-type materials by sol-gel process, C1 chemistry, catalytic wet oxidation for waste-water treatment, desulfurization and deodorization of exhaust gases, and synthesis of CFC alternatives. This group is particularly strong in process development through pilot-plant tests. 6. The Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT), Taejon In this Government-established institute aimed at applied researches for supporting local chemical industry, thirty researchers (15 Ph.D.s) are working on all areas of catalytic technology. Recent developments by KRICT include the process for polybutene synthesis from C4 feedstocks (110,000 Ton/yr), ammoxidation catalysts for pyrazine amide and acrylonitrile, catalysts for aromatic alkylation, CO2 activation via Fischer-Tropsch route, and zeolite-type detergent builder. KRICT is equipped with modern instruments for catalyst characterization. 7. The Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER), Taejon KIER is the Government-established institute for research on the efficient utilization of energy from fossil and non-fossil fuel, and the exploitation of renewable energy. Twenty five researchers (20 Ph.D.s) are working on photocatalysis, fabrication of industrial catalysts and adsorbents, utilization of natural gas, catalytic combustion, and catalytic abatement of hazardous gases. 8. The Research Institute for Catalysis (RIC) of Chonnam National University, Kwangju Ten faculty members and more than 60 graduate students in the departments of chemical engineering, applied chemistry and chemistry are active members of RIC devoted to catalysis research. An example of processes developed by RIC is the catalytic removal of dissolved oxygen from cooling water of power plant. Other researches include depolymerization of waste polymers, photocatalysis, zeolite and mesoporous materials, and metal-complex catalysts. 9. Department of Chemical Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul Four faculty members and 38 graduate students are active in researches on fuel cell, photocatalysis, HDS and deNOx, aerogel catalysts for CO2 reforming of methane, base catalysts, and nano-porous materials. 10. Department of Chemical Engineering, Korea University, Seoul Two professors and 20 graduate students are involved in C1 chemistry, alkane activation, fuel cell, deNOx and CO oxidation for auto-vehicles, biocatalysis, and catalytic synthesis of specialty chemicals. 11. Department of Chemical Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul Two professors and 15 graduate students are working on dearomatization of heavy oil, modification and application of zeolitic materials, and characterization of supported metal catalysts. 12. Departments of Chemical Engineering, Chemical Technology, and Chemistry, Kyungpook National University, Taegu Six professors and 33 graduate students are active in research on ethylene dimerization using acid catalysts, fuel cell, methanol reforming, synthesis of specialty chemicals using base catalysts, characterization of zeolite structure, and polymerization using metallocene catalysts. 13. Department of Chemical Engineering, Yeungnam University, Taegu Three professors and 10 graduate students are working on oxidation of volatile organic chemicals, alkylation, desulfurization, alkane activation, and olefin copolymerization. 14. Department of Chemical Engineering, Pusan National University, Pusan Two professors and 15 graduate students are actively involved in catalytic recycling of waste tires, CO2 fixation, phase transfer catalysis, selective oxidation of hydrogen sulfide, and simulation of reaction processes. 15. Department of Chemical Engineering, Pukyung National University, Pusan Two professors and 11 graduate students are working on selective oxidation of hydrocarbons and hydrogen sulfide, characterization of mixed oxide catalysts, and catalyst deactivation. 16. Department of Chemical Engineering, Kyungsang National University, Masan Two professors and 10 graduate students are working on oxidation of volatile organic chemicals, selective hydrogenation, methanol reforming, photocatalysis and deNOx catalysts. 17. Department of Chemical Engineering, Chonbuk National University, Chonju Three professors and 18 graduate students are working on synthesis and characterization of zeolite and mesoporous materials, photocatalysis for deNOx, deSOx and VOC removal, and reaction mechanism on model surface using UHV analysis techniques. 18. Department of Chemical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon Three professors and 14 graduate students are investigating the adsorption of pollutant molecules on well-defined surface, C1 chemistry, CO2 reforming of methane, photocatalysis, and carbon nanofibers 19. Department of Chemical Engineering, Kyunghee University, Suwon Two professors and 12 graduate students are working on zeolite and mesoporous materials, fuel cell, CO oxidation and deNOx catalysts for auto-vehicles, and catalyst deactivation. 20. Department of Chemical Engineering, Ajou University, Suwon Two professors and 12 graduate students are working on methanol reforming, application of mesoporous materials, deNOx catalysts for auto-vehicles, and oxidation for VOC removal. 21. Department of Chemical Engineering, Inha University, Incheon Two professors and 10 graduate students are working on the synthesis of new catalytic molecular sieves by microwave hydrothermal process and fine/chiral chemicals by surfactant-assisted catalytic process.