South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT said on Tuesday it has confirmed the 2026 implementation plan for its core source technology development programme worth 235.1 billion won and will push ahead with the projects in earnest.

The plan covers semiconductors, displays and secondary batteries. It will provide new support for six projects worth 24 billion won.

In semiconductors, it will continue to support the development of promising next-generation core technologies such as intelligent semiconductors, PIM semiconductors, compound semiconductors, advanced packaging, fine substrates and 3D DRAM. It will also continue support for mid- to long-term focused research and development and for training master's- and doctoral-level experts in system semiconductors and advanced packaging.

It will support the My Chip service that manufactures chips for students majoring in semiconductor design, and expand the number of participating institutions in MoaFab, which links public nanofabs and university fabs online, to 14. It will strengthen linkages with global advanced fabs such as NY Creates in the United States and IMEC in Europe. It plans to hold a Korea-EU researcher forum in Europe in the first half of this year.

This year it will launch three new projects: the Next-Generation Photonics-Based Computing Semiconductor Core Technology Development Project to strengthen competitiveness in photonics-based semiconductor technology; the Semiconductor Advanced Ceramic Materials, Components and Process Innovation Development Project to secure core ceramic technologies for advanced packaging and power semiconductors; and the SDV-Response Harsh-Environment Automotive Semiconductor Core IP Core Technology Development Project to localise demand-based core IP technology for automotive semiconductors.

In displays, it will continue to support strategic laboratories based on private-sector demand to secure a wide lead in future displays, as well as the development of core technologies for ultra-high-resolution displays on silicon wafer substrates. It will newly 추진 the Next-Generation Converged Freeform Display Core Technology Development Project to secure core sensor-convergence display technologies that will innovate touch-based UI and UX.

In secondary batteries, it will continue to support core technology development for next-generation secondary batteries such as aqueous zinc batteries, sodium-ion batteries and lithium-metal batteries, the training of master's- and doctoral-level experts, and international cooperation projects between South Korea and the United States.

It will pursue new projects to develop core technologies for next-generation secondary batteries that can meet diverse demand in future industries where electrification and wireless capabilities are key, and to develop recycled aluminium-air batteries for use in future mobility.

The ministry will actively support core technology development in semiconductors, displays and secondary batteries in line with the confirmed plan. It will provide details related to this year's announcements for new projects through the Korea Research Foundation website at the end of this month.