- MSIT will promote world-leading R&D in full scale in 2025 based on the improvement of the government R&D system
- The Ministry will strengthen pioneering efforts in overall national R&D investment and systematically address the challenges of future generations.
- A swift and flexible investment system, including an improved preliminary feasibility study system, will be established to improve the timeliness of R&D.
The Ministry of Science and ICT (Minister Lee Jong Ho, MSIT) has announced a substantial increase in government investment dedicated to advancing pioneering research and development (R&D) initiatives. This commitment is a pivotal part of a broader strategy aimed at establishing the nation as a global leader in R&D by 2025.
The 'Direction and Criteria for National R&D Investment in 2025' has received endorsement from the Steering Committee of the 58th Presidential Advisory Council on Science and Technology meeting. This comprehensive plan provides strategic guidance for government R&D investment, guiding the allocation and adjustment of the R&D budget.
Over the past year, the government has undertaken significant reforms to the R&D system, aiming to improve efficiency and effectiveness. Initiatives such as the "Yoon Suk Yeol Administration’s R&D Innovation Plan" have laid the groundwork for transitioning to a leading R&D infrastructure. The "Investment Direction for 2025" seeks to build upon these efforts and accelerate the transition to world-leading R&D system in full-scale.
The investment direction outlines a plan to revamp the investment system across four major areas.
Upgrading the R&D Investment and Execution System
MSIT will improve the system to maximize the effectiveness of government investment and upgrade it to a system suitable for 'first-to-market and best-in-class investment' with the three keywords of 'Co-petition', 'Just in Time', and 'Transparency' for world-leading R&D.
Efficient budget allocation and coordination system where all ministries work as one team
We will strengthen inter-ministerial cooperation by establishing a communication system that spans from ministries to the field, and improve the rigidity of spending limits by ministries to ensure that government R&D budgets are efficiently invested across ministries.
Shift to a fast and flexible investment system to respond to rapidly changing technological environment
The preliminary feasibility study for R&D will shift from a selection-oriented examination to a method that enhances the completeness of planning through expert review and alternative suggestions, and will actively promote the improvement of the preliminary study system that considers the characteristics of each type and stage of project, such as the establishment of projects in the field of ministries' unique missions through project consolidation and re-planning.
A transparent budget system that can be trusted by the public
By linking the Integrated Research Support System (IRIS) and the National Science and Technology Knowledge Information Service (NTIS), the details of government R&D funding and key research results will be made available to the public without any additional administrative burden on researchers.
In addition, the government will also promote the transformation of specialized research management institutions so that a research management system in line with the leading R&D system, such as an advanced Project Manager (PM) system where the PM is responsible for the entire research cycle, strengthening global R&D planning and management capabilities, and introducing open planning, can be established in the field.
Investment Priorities Toward a First Mover, Science and Technology Powerhouse
The keyword of the R&D investment plan for 2025 is 'investments that challenge the first and the best', focusing on strengthening the pioneering spirit of national R&D. It also supports the challenges of future generations, who are the main players in national innovation, in all aspects. As a country leading global technological innovation, we will also launch bold challenges at the national level, such as achieving growth surge into one of the G3 countries by 2030 with three game-changing technologies.
Embedding a culture of advancement and innovation throughout the government R&D investments
MSIT will provide significant support for leading and challenging R&D that risks failure but can lead national technological innovation if successful. Key projects will be identified, and special exemptions such as abolishing evaluation ratings, simplifying preliminary feasibility studies, and expediting the introduction of facilities and equipment will be granted, and follow-up projects will be supported when tangible outcomes are delivered.
The government will also strengthen the responsibility of government R&D investment as adventure capital that is difficult for the private sector to provide. The government will accelerate technological innovation in the market through additional investment in areas where private investment has proven to be innovative, and in areas where it is difficult for the private sector to provide, the government will lead follow-up investments from the market with government support, thereby strengthening the public-private partnership investment system to compensate for market failures and enhance dynamism. We will also expand investments to preemptively respond to national and social risks such as climate crisis and population decline.
Supporting the growth into becoming a global R&D center that leads innovation
We will foster leading technologies and first-class technologies that can cooperate and compete on an equal footing with leading countries (secondary batteries, displays, next-generation networks, etc.), and establish and expand strategic partnerships with countries by identifying and investing in large-scale strategic flagship projects that can lead the global agenda.
For 12 key national strategic technologies and 17 carbon-neutral technologies, we will support all-round cooperation based on a global cooperation strategy. In particular, for three game-changing technologies such as AI, advanced bio, and quantum, the government will invest to play a leading role as an innovation platform that can quickly adopt leading technologies through cooperation with major countries and expand its influence through demonstration with technology powerhouses.
Investing in R&D to foster national talent
To enable future generations, including students and early career researchers, to take bold challenges without fear of failure, we will create a stable research environment and strengthen a solid support system. In addition, we plan to support the growth of top talent through government R&D investments, including the establishment of a data-based strategic technology talent training system.
Outstanding researchers will be supported to compete globally, and MSIT will invest in building a top-notch research environment so that universities with leading capabilities in Korea can grow into world-class research centers.
Making the country a science and technology powerhouse that will lead new growth with solid technological sovereignty
MSIT will significantly expand the budget for three game-changing technologies, including AI, bio, and quantum, so that Korea can become a G3 country by 2030. For AI, we will mobilize our capabilities through a clear division of roles between the public and private sectors, but invest in the essential infrastructure technologies essential for future AI services, such as next-generation AI semiconductors and K-cloud based on domestic semiconductors, so that the country can proactively secure the key technologies. In the field of bio, the Ministry will focus on digital bio and bio foundry based on our strengths in ICT and manufacturing competitiveness, and in the field of quantum technology, we will accelerate our pursuit of leading technologies by strengthening joint research with world-renowned institutions of the U.S. and the EU, while continuing to make investments in infrastructure such as building quantum materials, parts and equipment and fabs.
In the field of high-tech industries such as semiconductors and secondary batteries, we will expand the scope of support for next-generation technologies to secure a super gap, as well as key supply chain technologies to preemptively secure future ecosystems. In addition, investments will be strengthened in technology independence and standardization for pioneering areas such as space and cyberspace, and technologies to protect territories and people against emerging threats such as energy, food, and resources.
The Investment Direction for 2025 was prepared based on extensive consultations with industry, researchers, academia, and key science and technology policy stakeholders. MSIT will present the investment direction (draft) to the 7th deliberative meeting of the Presidential Advisory Council on Science and Technology on March 15 and notify the Ministry of Strategy and Finance and related ministries.
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.
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