South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT on Friday held the first 2026 meeting of the National R&D Project Evaluation Steering Committee, chaired by Innovation Office head Park In-kyu (박인규). It confirmed the results of selecting projects subject to a fourth round of preliminary feasibility studies in 2025.

The committee selected as preliminary feasibility study targets the "Development of Core Technologies and Construction of a Demonstration Base for the Accelerated Realisation of Fusion Energy (MSIT)" project and the "Korean Urban Air Mobility (K-UAM) Safe Operation System Demonstration Technology Development (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Korea Meteorological Administration)" project.

The fusion energy project aims to advance seven core fusion energy technologies to a level ready for application before deployment in real-world environments. The plan also includes building a "Fusion Energy Core Technology Demonstration Center" to verify technology development outcomes and support the private sector in securing key technologies to lay the groundwork for commercialisation of fusion energy.

The K-UAM safe operation system demonstration technology development project is part of a national strategic technology flagship project. Based on the outcomes of the phase-one technology development, it will advance core technologies for the safe operation system and pursue testing, evaluation and demonstrations in real urban environments.

Projects selected this time for preliminary feasibility studies will undergo about seven months of review. Whether they proceed will be finally confirmed depending on the study results.

Park said a bill related to abolishing preliminary feasibility studies for national R&D projects passed the National Assembly on Thursday. Park added that because some projects are still being reviewed under the existing system, he would work to operate the current system stably through the end so that national priority projects can move forward on time.