Korea and the United States have held the Korea-U.S. Science & Technology(S&T) Forum annually since 1993 when both governments renewed the Agreement for Science and Technology Cooperation. With different main topics for each forum, the forum had been held nine times by 2001. The forums have been effective as a mechanism for policy dialogue as well as scientific interaction between the two countries.

Based upon this accomplishment, both governments agreed at the Fifth Meeting of the Joint Commission for Scientific and Technological Cooperation held on Oct. 31, 2002 that the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) of Korea and the National Science Foundation (NSF) of the United States would jointly hold a forum on nano technology regularly starting in 2003 with a view toward facilitating cooperation in nano technology, one of the most promising technology fields of mutual interest of the two countries in the 21st century.

In this framework, MOST designated the Korea Institute of Science & Technology Evaluation and Planning (KISTEP) and the Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information (KISTI) as co-organizers of the First Korea-U.S. Nano Forum on the Korean side.

This nano forum is expected to provide an ideal venue for exchanging information on the recent status of research and development as well as ideas for cooperation among experts of both countries in nano technology.

This event is also expected to help scientists and experts form their professional networks for collaboration, deepen mutual understanding of institutions, practices, and policy environments of the two nations, and lay the ground for establishing favorable collaborative environments for more upgraded cooperationbetween Korea and the United States.