Korea is expected to locally produce a large amount of highly sophisticated medical equipment, ending its heavy dependence on exports.

The Ministry of Health, Welfare and Family Affairs said Friday that ten domestic medical equipment centers have developed nine kinds of commercial high-tech equipment. The ministry has provided 40 billion won for the developers since 2002.

In addition, the centers have produced about 400 medical theses and gained patent rights to around 280 technologies, laying the foundation for local development of high-tech medical equipment.

The ministry said that it expects the developed technologies to be worth ten times as much as the funds provided.