The First Korea Toray Science Foundation Awards Ceremony for Korea Science and Technology Award and Korea Toray Science and Technology Research Fund by the Korea Toray Science Foundation(KTSF) was held on October 31st, 2018 at the conference center of the Federation of Korea Industries Head Office Building in Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Mr. Chang Suk-bok, Professor of Department of Chemistry at KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology), was selected for the Korea Toray Science and Technology Award in the Basic Research and Mr. Jang Jyong-sik, Professor of School of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Seoul National University, for the same in Applied Research and the two scholars received prize money and a plaque.

Four teams led respectively by Professor Lee Min-jae of Seoul National University, Professor Lee Eun-sung of Pohang University of Science and Technology, Professor Wang Gun-uk of Korea University and Professor Lee Yun-jung of Hanyang University were chosen as the recipients of the Toray Korea Science and Technology Research Fund. These teams will receive research expense aid for the next three years.

In his address at the ceremony, Toray Industries, Inc. President Akihiro Nikkaku mentioned that five of Japan’s Toray Science Foundation’s Toray Science and Technology Prize winners and Toray Science and Technology Grants recipients later won Nobel Prize and said that he hoped for Nobel Prize winners also from the KTSF winners and recipients. He also said that Toray will contribute to the promotion of science and technology, nurturing talented people and strengthening friendly relations between Korea and Japan.

Lee Young-moo, the President of Hanyang University, announced progress report prize screening that the committee which is composed of prominent scholars and experts did their best to select winners and creative tasks for outstanding achievements over two months after Open reception of Korea Science and Technology Award and Korea Toray Science and Technology Research Fund. Also, at the congratulatory address, Lee Hee-Beom, the former Minister said, "Let's try to work together for the development of Korean science with a long-term perspective.”

After the awards ceremony, Ryoji Noyori, the Japanese Nobel laureate in Chemistry 2001 delivered a special lecture on the subject of his experience and the society created by the younger generation.

KTSF was established in January in this year as a public benefit corporation in order to focus on the fields of chemistry and materials and future manpower development, which are fundamental to science and technology and promote industrial development.