Instituted in Juche 92 (2003), the February 16 Science and Technology Prize is the highest prize in the sector of science and technology in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

According to information available, dozens of organizations and well over a thousand scientists and technicians have won it for the past 20 years since its institution.

At the first award ceremony held in February Juche 93 (2004), the prize (individual) was awarded to two scientists from Kim Chaek University of Technology and the State Academy of Sciences, and the prize (for task) to two projects which were completed by scientists and technicians of Kim Il Sung University and the State Academy of Sciences.

Since then, scientific research activities have been conducted more vigorously to raise the country’s cutting-edge science and technology onto a high level and solve sci-tech problems urgently arising in the development of the national economy. The climate of attaching importance to science and technology prevailed throughout the country and a dynamic campaign for research and creation has been waged to positively propel the development of the self-supporting economy by dint of science and technology.

At the award ceremony held on four occasions from 2013 to 2016, more than 40 projects conducive to making a big stride in the development of the national economy received certificates of the prize and medals.

Top scientists and technicians of the DPRK are selected every year among those who are awarded the prize.

In March 2016, the first certificates of top scientists and technicians of the DPRK were conferred on six intellectuals who performed distinguished feats in developing the country’s science and technology and economic development.

In recent three years alone, nearly 20 projects and hundreds of scientists and technicians were awarded the prize for their tangible contribution to strengthening independence and Juche character of the national economy, putting production lines on a modern and IT footing and improving the people’s standard of living, and many top scientists and technicians of the country have been produced.

The February 16 Science and Technology Prize winners have brought out great results conducive to propelling the development of the self-supporting economy by travelling the thorny path of scientific research with their revolutionary faith and patriotic will.

They are now taking the lion’s share in fully attaining in a perfect way the goals and tasks for economic development of the state and improving the level of science and technology onto a high level.