In July 2015, the National IT Industry Promotion Agency(NIPA) selected ETRI as the first among 49 institutions conducting R&D projects for the Software Asset Bank(SAB) to be exempted from quality management. This achievement was possible as the Q-mark system, which ETRI has maintained since 2008 to certify its research performance quality, satisfied all criteria for exemption—feasibility, sufficiency, and independence—under the guidelines for IT and broadcasting R&D management.
The SAB’s project quality management consists of a series of activities of designating projects to be registered to the SAB among ICT R&D projects, formulating quality management plans and inspecting their implementation, and enhancing SW quality through registration and management of research performance data. Introducing the Q-mark system reflecting international quality standards to its entire R&D process, ETRI became capable of more systematic, effective project management. The institution not only enhanced the quality of its research products, but also witnessed more than a 15 percent improvement in the level of customer satisfaction for technology transfer and other programs.
The SAB’s project quality management consists of a series of activities of designating projects to be registered to the SAB among ICT R&D projects, formulating quality management plans and inspecting their implementation, and enhancing SW quality through registration and management of research performance data. Introducing the Q-mark system reflecting international quality standards to its entire R&D process, ETRI became capable of more systematic, effective project management. The institution not only enhanced the quality of its research products, but also witnessed more than a 15 percent improvement in the level of customer satisfaction for technology transfer and other programs.
Consequently, ETRI is now allowed to replace the screening system for the SAB’s R&D quality management with its own Q-mark system. This transition will enable ETRI to significantly scale down redundant quality management processes, thereby notably improving its research productivity. Dr. Hyo-taek Jeong, head of the Quality Innovation Team, noted, “Based on this approval for quality management exemption, ETRI will systemize the quality management activities for not only SW projects, but also all other R&D projects, and will continue to improve the quality of its research products.”
