A joint public-private program was launched Tuesday to nurture talent in key economic sectors deemed excessively reliant on other countries, namely Japan.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy held a launching ceremony for the program in Seoul on Tuesday.

Led by the Korea Semiconductor Industry Association and jointly operated by six universities and 41 medium-sized companies, the program offers postgraduate courses and short-term non-degree courses. 

The postgraduate curriculum is aimed at nurturing research and development(R&D) experts who can immediately work in the field upon completion of a master's degree by offering training based on the needs of the industries.

The short-term courses, meanwhile, are aimed at enhancing employee and student expertise at companies and universities, respectively.

The ministry said the program will nurture 60 R&D experts a year for the next five years.

The program was formulated following Japan's implementation of export restrictions last month on three high-tech materials to South Korea essential for the production of semiconductors and displays.

Japan will also remove South Korea from a shortlist of trusted trade partners on Wednesday, potentially disrupting exports on a wider variety of items.