- 2026 Selection Results Finalized for the “Program for Establishing Collaboration Platforms and Supporting Joint Research among Top-Tier Research Institutions”
- Support for Comprehensive Inter-Institutional Collaboration, Including Joint Research, Personnel Exchanges, and Information Sharing
【Related National Policy Agenda】 26. System Innovation to Make Korea One of the World’s Top Five Science and Technology Powers
The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT; Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Bae Kyunghoon) announced that it has finalized the selection of new projects for the 2026 “Program for Establishing Collaboration Platforms and Supporting Joint Research among Top-Tier Research Institutions” (hereinafter the “Top-Tier Program”) and will begin providing support to the four selected consortia of Korean and overseas research institutions.
The Top-Tier Program supports the establishment of long-term, sustainable collaboration platforms through comprehensive international cooperation among leading research institutions in Korea and abroad, including joint research, personnel exchanges, and information sharing. The program aims to continuously build and expand network assets with outstanding overseas research communities, while developing world-leading and first-of-their-kind technologies and addressing shared global challenges such as the climate crisis and infectious diseases.
For reference, since 2024, the Top-Tier Program has supported four projects aimed at establishing close collaborative frameworks with leading research institutions around the world, including those in the United States, Japan, and Belgium. Through these efforts, the program has generated multifaceted collaborative outcomes, including 103 Science Citation Index (SCI)-level papers and 86 domestic and international personnel exchanges (as of January 2026).
Each of the newly selected projects will receive KRW 2.3 billion annually in research and development funding for a period of ten years. The selection results and key details of each project are as follows:
First, the joint research team of the Semiconductor Inspection and Metrology Research Center (Seoul National University-California Institute of Technology, U.S.) aims to secure ultra-high-resolution, ultra-high-speed, and highly reliable metrology technologies to meet the manufacturing and inspection needs of precision structures in future next-generation semiconductors. The research is expected to enhance non-destructive inspection capabilities for detecting invisible defects inside ultra-fine semiconductor structures and contribute to innovation in advanced AI-based manufacturing processes. The California Institute of Technology research team participating in the project possesses world-leading research capabilities in ultra-precision imaging technologies. The two institutions plan to establish a sustainable base for collaboration through a research consultative body and long-term invitations of research groups, among other initiatives.
The joint research team of the Quantum Functional Materials Research Center (Pohang University of Science and Technology-Max Planck Institute, Germany) will develop novel materials capable of precisely controlling the fundamental properties of quantum systems, with the aim of securing core technologies for next-generation quantum devices that can overcome the limitations of conventional electronic technologies. The research is expected to facilitate the application of research outcomes to advanced industrial fields, including ultra-low-power information processing and quantum artificial intelligence (AI) information devices. The researchers from the Max Planck Institute participating in the joint research possess world-class research capabilities in advanced future materials and physical phenomena. The two institutions will further strengthen the foundation for collaboration through researcher exchanges, invitations of distinguished scholars, and the operation of a new Max Planck Center collaboration platform.
The joint research team at the Global Ion Channel Innovation Research Center (Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST)-National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Japan) aims to investigate, from multiple perspectives, the structures and mechanisms of ion channel variants that cause disorders, including pediatric encephalopathy, and to identify candidate compounds for personalized treatment. If the research objectives are achieved, the project is expected to make a significant contribution to securing technologies for the precision diagnosis and treatment of rare and intractable neurological diseases. Researchers from Japan’s National Institute for Physiological Sciences participating in the consortium are internationally recognized authorities in systems neuroscience, including primate research. The two institutions will foster a closely integrated collaborative ecosystem through a reciprocal joint appointments, the establishment of joint programs, and regular academic meetings.
The joint research team of the Center for Intelligent Circular Chemical Ecosystem Innovation (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, KAIST and California Institute of Technology, Caltech) aims to develop advanced chemical upcycling technologies that can convert byproducts, such as halogen compounds and sulfur waste, into high-value chemicals and materials. These technologies are expected to develop into key enabling technologies for carbon neutrality and the circular economy. Caltech researchers participating in joint research projects are widely recognized for their expertise in computational chemistry and reaction mechanism elucidation. Building on this cooperation, the two institutions will promote short-term reciprocal research visits and establish scholarship programs for students, helping to nurture the next generation of researchers and expand international research network.
Hwang Sung-hoon, Director General for International Cooperation Bureau at MSIT, said, “I would like to thank all the researchers and institutions in Korea and abroad for their hard work and support in preparing for the 2026 call for proposals. The MSIT will continue to provide strong support for the selected international research consortia so that their collaboration can produce tangible outcomes and make a meaningful impact on the global science and technology community.
For further information, please contact the Public Relations Division (Phone: +82-44-202-4034, E-mail: msitmedia@korea.kr) of the Ministry of Science and ICT.
Please refer to the attached PDF.