Gu Hyeok-chae (구혁채), first vice minister at the Ministry of Science and ICT, visited the National Research Foundation of Korea on March 26. He held a meeting with research programme management professionals, or PMs, at the foundation's National Strategic Research Division and discussed ways to overhaul management of the National Strategic Research Programme.
The meeting was attended by 10 PMs from the division and foundation officials. Participants reviewed management status and expected outcomes, including task planning and funding execution, to implement state task No. 28, aimed at securing next-generation strategic technologies that will lead the world. They also shared on-the-ground difficulties.
They also held intensive discussions on reform measures across planning, evaluation and management to encourage challenging research and strengthen researchers' autonomy and accountability.
Gu said whether South Korea secures strategic technologies that are the world's first and at the top level depends on the results of the ministry's National Strategic Research Programme. He urged PMs at the National Research Foundation of Korea to do their utmost in planning research tasks and managing outcomes, saying their roles and responsibilities are heavy in maximising those results.
Seulgi Son
sageson@d-today.co.kr