Park In-gyu (박인규), head of the Science and Technology Innovation Office, held a meeting with researchers at regional universities on Monday and explained key details of the 2027 national research and development (R&D) budget plan and the direction for drafting the basic research budget.

Master's and doctoral graduate students at regional universities, postdoctoral researchers, early-career and mid-career faculty members, and private-sector experts attended the meeting.

The Ministry of Science and ICT will expand research incentives for master's and doctoral students next year and newly introduce "university block funding" that allows universities to use research funds autonomously for research staff, facilities and equipment. Through this, it plans to expand stable research opportunities for doctorate-level researchers such as postdoctoral researchers.

It will also create a new "regional long-term 10-year track" so that early-career researchers at regional universities can continue their research over the long term, strengthening the research base for young researchers.

Park said, "It is important to provide stable research opportunities so that young researchers can take on challenges and grow." He added, "We will continue to invest in basic research so that universities and regions can foster talented people and researchers can fully demonstrate their capabilities."