The 39th National Festival of Science and Technology took place at the Sci-Tech Complex in Pyongyang from April 28 to May 7.

The festival, held on the theme of “Guarantee for implementation of the new five-year plan, science and technology”, brought together scientists and technicians from more than 590 units nominated by commissions, ministries and national agencies and highly appreciated at provincial (municipal) sci-tech festivals.

The festival was divided into dozens of panels including those of metal, chemical, electric power and machine-building industries. Displayed there were successes achieved in the course of research for the economic development of the country and the improvement of the people’s living standards.

Unlike in the past, the venue of the festival was partitioned in a fresh way into the sectors of the national economy, provinces, and science and education.

The most noteworthy were the proposals made in the field of science and education.

The booth of the State Academy of Sciences, which plays a key role in developing science and technology of the country, was located in the atrium.

It put on display scores of achievements of great practical significance in various fields of the national economy, including a metal-oxide arrester for high-voltage use and 80-hp tractor transmission gear.

The Academy of Agricultural Science presented proposals conducive to putting agricultural production on a scientific, modern and IT basis, including a new plant-active fertilizer, compound microbial treatment agent, plant growth regulator and agricultural science and technology service system using the mobile communications network.

The Ice Rink integrated management system and the extended weather forecast system based on AI presented by Kim Il Sung University, the intelligent integrated production system of the Samgwang Livestock Farm and the prospecting and using of rare-earth resources by Kim Chaek University of Technology and the method for improving the quality of honeyed chestnut based on refrigeration and enzymatic treatment by Pyongyang Han Tok Su University of Light Industry attracted much attention of visitors for their great practical significance.

In particular, the academy of fisheries of the Ministry of Fisheries presented the scallop farming technology and the research achievements for raising the survival rate of artificial fries of flatfish to draw the interest of experts. The scallop farming technology helps raise the productivity by solving problems arising in artificial breeding of scallops in a scientific and technological way. It is said to be able to increase the per-hectare production of scallops as compared to previously.

An official of the Central Committee of the General Federation of Science and Technology of Korea said that the scientific and technological achievements made by the scientific research units and universities show that the overall atmosphere of the scientific community in recent years is firmly oriented toward ensuring the scientific and technological guarantee for the fulfilment of the tasks which are prioritized by the state.

Meanwhile, the products presented by factories and enterprises were also eye-catching.

Experts expressed keen interest in an industrial robot and a mobile bedroom using heat-proof composite boards presented by a factory.

The robot’s control device and main body are quite different from conventional ones, greatly reducing the production cost and doubling the working efficiency. The visitors also appreciated the mobile bedroom using heat-proof composite boards, which can provide lodgings to builders in construction sites.

The automatic vending machine “Silli” 1.0 presented by the Pyongyang Kwangmyong Information Technology Company received positive feedback from visitors for its selling accuracy and convenient operation method.

Many proposals conducive to implementing the regional development policy have been made by North Phyongan, Kangwon and North Hamgyong provinces and other regions.

During the festival, there took place a sci-tech seminar, presentation, technical lecture and exchange service on new technical products.

“The festival, which provided an arena for wide-ranging exchange and cooperation in the field of science and technology, served as an important occasion in promoting social progress and overall prosperity of the state by dint of the steady development of scientific and technological capabilities and the practical vitality of the principle of attaching importance to science and technology,” said Choe Yong Chol, department director of the Central Committee of the General Federation of Science and Technology of Korea.