South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT held a kickoff meeting on Monday to begin drawing up the sixth Basic Plan for Science and Technology and the second mid- to long-term national R&D investment strategy.

The basic plan is the top statutory plan on science and technology drawn up under the Framework Act on Science and Technology. Once the science minister finalises the plan, each central administrative agency and local government draws up and carries out annual implementation plans under it.

The mid- to long-term national R&D investment strategy is a statutory plan and the top investment strategy that sets strategic investment goals and directions for the national R&D budget over the next 5 years. Linked to key policies such as government policy tasks and the basic plan for science and technology, it serves as a standard for allocating and adjusting the national R&D budget.

The ministry will first draw up the basic plan for science and technology, which presents policy directions and goals across all ministries. In connection with the "measures to innovate the R&D ecosystem" announced at a public briefing on Nov. 7 last year, it will focus on creating an environment in which researchers can take on challenges and immerse themselves in research, and on strengthening the capabilities of universities, companies and government-funded research institutes. It will also hold discussions on strengthening an AI foundation.

It aims to achieve technology-led growth through concentrated fostering of future strategic technologies such as AI, robotics and bio. It will also present directions for building a sustainable society in areas such as regions, safety and the environment, and for enabling all to grow together across regions and social groups.

At the kickoff meeting, the ministry appointed 100 planning committee members made up of experts spanning science and technology as well as social sciences, humanities and economics. It appointed Eui-joon Yoon (윤의준), president of the Korean Academy of Engineering, as chair of the overall steering committee.

It will also draw up a mid- to long-term strategy to strengthen stable investment in R&D despite constrained fiscal conditions. It plans to include core technology areas to secure technology sovereignty in fields such as AI and energy, and areas aimed at growth for all citizens through upgrading the research ecosystem. It will also focus discussions on areas that form the basic foundation, such as basic research and talent, and on measures to create and spread R&D outcomes across the country.

The overall steering committee, led by chair Kyung-hwan Na (나경환), a distinguished professor at Dankook University, is made up of 17 experts from a range of ages and affiliations across industry, academia and research. It will appoint 5 members of the basic plan steering committee to concurrently serve to strengthen linkage between policy and investment.

The committee plans to communicate closely with 10 technology-field expert committees, numbering about 160 members, under the steering committee of the deliberation council of the National Science and Technology Advisory Council to secure expertise and execution capacity for the mid- to long-term investment strategy.

On the day, the ministry introduced an outline of the basic plan and the mid- to long-term national R&D investment strategy, achievements to date, an analysis of domestic and external policy conditions, directions for drawing up the plans and the future schedule. It also held reviews, discussions and debates on planning directions by subcommittee and candidate tasks to 추진.

Vice Minister Kyung-hoon Bae (배경훈) said the new basic plan for science and technology and the mid- to long-term national R&D investment strategy would be a process of drawing South Korea's future. He urged planning committee members to bring together their wisdom, experience and insight and to make bold proposals that go beyond existing frameworks.