- MSIT’s 2026 Work Plan
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Key Initiatives
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① Developing initial models of independent AI and promoting “AI Co-Scientists.”
② Advancing AI Transformation (AX) across four major regions; promoting the global expansion of K-AI; and establishing an Asia-Pacific AI Hub.
③ Implementing the “K-Moonshot” project to address national challenges; and fostering strategic technologies in life sciences (biotechnology) and quantum technologies.
④ Nurturing science and technology (S&T) talent, including National Scientists, and innovating the R&D ecosystem toward challenge-oriented and immersive research.
⑤ Substantially expanding regionally led, autonomous R&D; and establishing a strict corporate accountability system for information security
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【Related National Tasks】
20. Establishing an AI Highway to leap into the top three global AI powerhouses.
21. Becoming the world’s most AI-literate country
22. Securing “unmatched” frontier technologies and talent in artificial intelligence (AI).
23. Realizing a “Universal Basic AI Society” to enhance public safety and universal quality of life.
26. Innovating systems to leap into the top five global S&T powerhouses.
27. Cultivating a basic research ecosystem and emerging as a global S&T talent powerhouse.
28. Nurturing next-generation (NEXT) strategic technologies that lead the world.
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The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT; Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Bae Kyunghoon) reported its 2026 work plan to the President on Friday, December 12, at 10:00 a.m., at the Sejong Convention Center.
This work plan defines four strategies and twelve key tasks to concretize the national agenda of becoming a global top-three AI powerhouse and a premier S&T powerhouse, and to deliver tangible, people-centered outcomes in 2026, building upon the achievements in AI and S&T—including the R&D restoration in 2025—since the inauguration of the new government.
| [Strategy 1] Maximizing Korea’s Innovation Capacity in New S&T and AI Governance |
With the elevation of MSIT to a deputy-prime-minister-level organization for the first time in 17 years, and the establishment of the Ministerial Meeting on Science and Technology (November 2025) chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister for S&T and AI, the governance framework for Korea’s S&T and AI policies and implementation has been established. In addition, the largest-ever S&T and AI budget has been secured to lay the groundwork for Korea’s transition toward the AI era and its emergence as a global S&T powerhouse.
※ R&D Budget: KRW 29.6 trillion (2025) → KRW 35.5 trillion (2026) / AI Budget: KRW 3.0 trillion (2025) → KRW 9.9 trillion (2026)
In 2026, this governance framework will be put into full operation, while S&T-driven industrial innovation, the cultivation of future emerging industries, and the resolution of national challenges will be expedited through public-private partnerships.
[1-1] Establishing a Pan-Governmental AI Transformation (AX) Collaboration/Implementation System
To generate tangible outcomes from AI Transformation (AX) initiatives led by individual ministries, MSIT will establish a pan-governmental collaboration framework involving government, industry, academia, and research institutes. Also, AI resources from both the public and private sectors will be collectively utilized.
[1-2] Government R&D: Driving Administrative Innovation and Scaling Outcomes
Government R&D will be restructured to emphasize collaboration and a performance-oriented system.
A national flagship project will be launched to rapidly demonstrate innovative technologies, link them to public procurement, and support the formation of initial markets, through cross-ministerial and private-sector collaboration. In addition, to foster the emergence of unicorn companies, cross-ministerial collaborative R&D for technology commercialization will be expanded.
| [Strategy 2] Full-Scale Drive toward a Top-Three Global AI Powerhouse and Tangible, People-Centered Outcomes |
By developing a Korean-style AI (K-AI) that benefits everyone, MSIT aims to drive transformative innovation across local economies, industrial productivity, and R&D efficiency. Building on this foundation, the Ministry will focus its efforts on expanding K-AI into global markets and positioning Korea as the AI capital of the Asia-Pacific region.
[2-1] Development and Deployment of K-AI for All Koreans
MSIT plans to complete the first phase of the AI foundation model project, which focuses on the development and deployment of K-AI, by January 2026. The Ministry will release the resulting models as open source within the first half of the year and aims to secure a spot among the global top 10 in AI competitiveness by 2026. Based on these foundation models, sector-specific AI services—such as in defense, manufacturing, and culture—will be developed, and AI benefits will be extended to all citizens through adoption in public services.
[2-2] Securing World-Class Competitiveness in the AI Innovation Ecosystem
An AI Highway will be established to support K-AI. To address urgent GPU demand across industry, academia, and research, a cumulative total of 37,000 GPUs will be secured by 2026 (government procurement: 15,000; Supercomputer No. 6: 9,000). These resources will be strategically allocated—based on priority—to national projects, public AI services, startups, and regional AI Transformation (AX) initiatives. In addition, a KRW 1 trillion-scale Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) will be developed to overcome AI limitations, while the K-NPU project will be promoted to advance domestic AI semiconductors.
[2-3] Accelerating AI-Driven S&T Innovation
Globally, AI is dramatically enhancing the quality and efficiency of S&T R&D. With the goal of producing Nobel Prize-level outcomes by 2030, MSIT will develop AI foundation models that accelerate scientific discovery in six key fields, and promote the development of AI Co-Scientists that collaborate with researchers across the entire research lifecycle.
* ① Life Sciences (Biotechnology), ② Earth Sciences, ③ Mathematics, ④ Materials/Chemistry, ⑤ Semiconductors/Displays, and ⑥ Secondary Batteries
[2-4] National AI Transformation and the Realization of a Global Universal AI Society
MSIT will promote AI innovation in regional industries and the global expansion of K-AI. To enable regional industries to revitalize through AI, the Ministry will launch AI Transformation (AX) projects in four major regions (2026-2030, totaling KRW 3.1 trillion) and expand AX initiatives nationwide by linking them with the specialized industries of the “5-Mega, 3-Special” regions. To expand Physical AI across industries centered on Korea’s competitive advantage sectors such as manufacturing, logistics, and shipbuilding, the “Physical AI Establishment and Expansion Strategy (tentative)” will be formulated in the first half of 2026.
* [Phase 1] Implementation (2026): southwest (mobility/energy), southeast (precision manufacturing), Daegu-Gyeongbuk (biotechnology/robotics), and Jeonbuk (AI factories)
[Phase 2] Planning (2026) → Implementation (2027): Central Region + Gangwon-do, Jeju-do
| [Strategy 3] Promoting Innovation-Driven Growth Based on Science and Technology |
To secure future growth drivers, we will carry out the K-Moonshot Project tackling national challenges, expand investment in basic research and talent development that form the foundation of science and technology, and continuously innovate the R&D ecosystem to support researchers' ambitions and immersion.
[3-1] Accelerating AI-Based Science and Technology Innovation
We will develop a Korean-style Moonshot project to secure key original technologies in national strategic technology fields such as tackling intractable diseases, clean energy, and next-generation semiconductors. Aiming to achieve a technological level of 85% by 2030, we will design the key missions and milestones for the K-Moonshot in 2026.
* 2022 Technology Level (%) Compared to Top Technology Holder (U.S.): Korea 81.5, China 82.6, Japan 86.4, European Union 94.7
[3-2] Securing International Leadership in Future Strategic Technologies
We will expand investment in advanced science and technology that will lead future markets, such as biotechnology and quantum technology, and accelerate the development of carbon-free energy technologies essential for the AI era.
By 2030, we plan to develop AI-driven biotechnology models in five key areas* including drug discovery and anti-aging, and establish key infrastructure such as AI-powered biotechnology research hubs and autonomous laboratories.
* The five key areas include: 1) Drug Discovery, 2) Anti-Aging and Brain Science, 3) Medical Devices, 4) Bio-Manufacturing, 5) Agrifood Systems
[3-3] Strengthening Basic Research and Cultivating S&T Talent
We will create an environment enabling researchers to conduct stable, long-term research. Legislative efforts will be made to ensure a certain percentage or more of government R&D investment goes to basic research, extend research periods (1-3 years → 3-5 years), and promote long-term research lasting 10 years or more.
[3-4] Fostering an Ambitious and Immersive R&D Ecosystem
To foster a bold and innovative R&D culture that tolerates failure, we will introduce an evaluation system focused on the integrity of the execution process rather than just outcomes, provide incentives for completed projects that underwent a meaningful execution process, tear down regulatory barriers that hinder researchers' immersion, minimize administrative requirements (currently 465 → approximately 200 types), and expand autonomy in research fund execution.
| [Strategy 4] Securing Inclusive Growth and Public Safety |
To achieve balanced national growth, we will revitalize regional R&D ecosystems and establish a new security paradigm to ensure a trustworthy digital environment.
[4-1] Science and Technology for All
We will significantly expand* the Regional Autonomous Government R&D Budget to enable regions to autonomously plan R&D reflecting their unique characteristics. Additionally, we will develop regional growth strategies through the meeting of Deputy Prime Minister for Science, Technology and AI - Chair of the Presidential Committee for Decentralization and Balanced Development (PCDBD) - Provincial Governors and push for the enactment of the Regional Science and Technology Innovation Act within the first half of 2026.
* (Regional Autonomous R&D Budget) Approx. KRW 160 billion in 2026 → KRW 500 billion in 2027 → KRW 1.1 trillion in 2030
[4-2] Building a Secure Digital Nation Resilient Against Cyber Threats
We will address the pervasive lack of security awareness among businesses and establish a strict accountability system. We will build an institutional foundation to recognize security as a core value, including codifying the security responsibilities of Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) in law and strengthening the authority of Chief Security Officers (CSOs)*.
* (e.g.) Identification and management of key IT assets, allocation of data security budgets and personnel, regular reporting to the board of directors, etc.
The MSIT, as the ministry responsible for science, technology and AI and as a deputy prime minister-level organization, will seize this golden opportunity to leap forward as a global leader in science, technology and AI. We will mobilize all public and private capabilities and do our utmost to deliver tangible changes for the public within the first half of the year.
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.