President Roh Moo-hyun said Monday the government will employ more engineers than ever as public servants to realize an era of the "electronic government," which will make the administration more transparent and effective.

Speaking on the 36th anniversary of Science Day at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Roh said this year would mark the launch of efforts to establish a front on which to make South Korea "a country of science and technology."

Roh said South Korea should compete with advanced countries through self-developed technologies, even though in the past, it followed their lead by studying and copying foreign technologies.

Roh said the government will support the National Science and Technology Council in order to induce the development of core technologies for creating new industries, and will arrange effective support measures to enliven investment in research and development.

The government plans to push for the industrialization of science and technology by supporting industry-academia cooperation centers at universities and to legislate a special law to support the balanced development of science and technology in local areas.

Roh said the government will also make efforts to strengthen cooperation in science and technology with North Korea in order to help the country play a leading role in bringing prosperity to Northeast Asia.