- Promoting collaborative convergence research across four major science and technology institutes in partnership with top researchers from academia, industry, and research institutes

- Eight InnoCORE research groups selected in fields such as AI modeling and bio‑AI; international outreach planned to recruit 400 postdoctoral researchers

- Guaranteeing an annual salary of approximately KRW 90 million, complemented by additional support through corporate and project matching

- Expanding domestic postdoctoral ecosystem to prevent brain drain and encourage the return of PhD-level talent

The Ministry of Science and ICT (Minister: Yoo Sang-im, hereinafter “MSIT”), in collaboration with four major science and technology institutes* has selected eight “InnoCORE** research groups” to lead advanced strategic research in the AI convergence field (AI+S&T), and is now launching full-scale recruitment of 400 outstanding postdoctoral researchers from both Korea and abroad.

* KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology), GIST (Gwangju Institute of Science & Technology), DGIST (Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science & Technology), UNIST (Ulsan National Institute of Science & Technology)

** InnoCORE (Innovation + Core researchers) is a program dedicated to cultivating core talent to drive innovation in AI convergence fields (AI+S&T)

This initiative responds to a growing global competition—especially in Europe and China—for top talent in AI and science and technology. MSIT and the four institutes aim to prevent brain drain, promote re-shoring of domestic PhD holders, and attract outstanding global early-career researchers, particularly postdocs who can be recruited more flexibly due to their international mobility.

◇ Background of the InnoCORE Program

The InnoCORE program, funded through government contributions to the four institutes, supports convergence research in AI+S&T through collaboration among Korea’s top academic, industrial, and research institutions. More critically, the program centers on postdoctoral-driven group research, aiming to cultivate promising early-career researchers, generate top-tier research outcomes, and facilitate their integration into Korea’s science and technology ecosystem. The initiative is aligned with a global shift toward AI-driven research and development.*

* For example, Demis Hassabis received the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for AI‑driven protein structure design and prediction.

In light of the urgent need to remain competitive in the global AI talent race, the program has been included in Korea’s 2025 supplementary budget. Starting with KRW 30 billion (for the initial six months), the government plans a five-year investment totaling KRW 300 billion.

As shown in the recent case of China’s DeepSeek, postdoctoral researchers are increasingly central to cutting-edge R&D.*

*Their core algorithm developers, mostly in their late 20s to early 30s, produced notable results during their second and third postdoc years.

However, in Korea, postdocs have long been viewed as temporary roles, with insufficient support in funding and compensation.

For example, MIT employs 1.4 times more postdoctoral researchers than full-time faculty, with postdocs playing a critical role in advanced research. In contrast, Korea’s four science and technology institutes employ only half as many postdocs as faculty. Moreover, their average annual salary is just 41% that of MIT, contributing to the steady outflow of Korean PhDs seeking better opportunities abroad.

※ (2024 Full-time Faculty) MIT: 1,090 / Four Institutes: 1,388

(2024 Postdocs) MIT: 1,534 / Four Institutes: 792

(2024 Average Postdoc Salary) MIT: approx. USD 80,000 / Four Institutes: approx. KRW 48 million

To reverse this trend, the program offers an annual salary of KRW 90 million, and provides additional matching support from corporate partners or external research projects, particularly to attract talent previously employed abroad at higher salaries.

◇ Overview of InnoCORE Research Groups

Following the May 2 approval of the supplementary budget, the four institutes selected eight AI convergence research groups through external expert review. The selection criteria included research innovation, the specificity and feasibility of postdoctoral recruitment, and detailed plans for researcher development.

Research Area Research Group Host Partners

AI Modeling LLM Innovation Research Center KAIST The four institutes, Seoul National University, Naver, LG AI Research, Google, Meta, IBM Research

Physical AI Research Group for Bio-embodied Physical AI DGIST The four institutes, Seoul National University, UIUC (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign)

Manufacturing AI Platform for Real-world Innovation in Smart Manufacturing and AI (PRISM-AI) KAIST The four institutes, LG Electronics, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, KIMM (Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials), MIT, UC Berkeley

AI+Bio AI-CRED Institute (AI Co-Research & Education for Innovative Drug Institute) KAIST The four institutes, KRICT (Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology), KRIBB (Korea Research Institute of Bioscience & Biotechnology), KISTI (Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information), KIST (Korea Institute of Science and Technology), Max Planck Institute (MPI)

AI+Bio AI+Nano Convergence Initiative for Early Detection of Neurodegenerative Diseases GIST The four institutes, Chonnam National University Hospital, KIST, T3Q, Harvard

AI+Aerospace AI-Transformed Aerospace Research Group KAIST The four institutes, Seoul National University, MIT, German Aerospace Center (DLR)/Royal Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR)

AI+Energy AI-driven Hydrogen Technology Innovation Center UNIST The four institutes, POSTECH, Seoul National University, KRICT, Stanford University

AI+Energy AI-driven Space Solar Initiative UNIST The four institutes, Seoul National University, KRICT, University of Oxford

These research groups will operate as open clusters, enabling collaboration not only across the four institutes but also with global and domestic academic and industrial partners. The program introduces a multi-mentor system, allowing faculty and researchers from participating organizations to mentor postdocs—facilitating smooth transitions into government-funded institutes or industry.

Detailed research plans will be finalized by the end of June, with research scheduled to begin in July.

◇ Postdoctoral Recruitment Plan

The four institutes will begin full-scale recruitment of 400 postdoctoral researchers based on each research group’s focus. To attract top global and overseas Korean talent, international job fairs and promotional campaigns will be conducted intensively in June.

Events will be held at major global AI hubs:

 June 18 (Wed): Boston – Northeastern University

 June 20 (Fri): New York – NYU-KAIST Global Innovation and Research Institute

 June 23 (Mon): Silicon Valley – KIC Silicon Valley, San Jose

Promotional efforts will span top-tier science media (Nature, Science), professional platforms (LinkedIn), and diaspora networks such as the Global Network of Korean Scientists & Engineers (KOSEN), overseas Korean Scientists and Engineers Associations, and Korean Student Associations, alongside active headhunting.

Lee Chang-yune, 1st Vice Minister of MSIT, remarked: 

“PhD-level talent in AI convergence is a strategic asset, and countries worldwide are racing to secure them. We hope InnoCORE serves as a springboard for young scientists to become leading global researchers. We will strengthen support to build a world-class postdoc ecosystem that makes Korea a compelling choice for both domestic and international researchers.”

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.