South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT on March 30 announced a plan to select new projects for its 2026 programme to support the use of global scholars' research capabilities in Korea.

The programme was launched as part of a support scheme for eminent scholars and highly experienced retired science and technology researchers under state task No. 27, "building a basic research ecosystem and realising a science and technology talent powerhouse". The ministry put in place support measures to keep scholars' extensive know-how as a national asset and help them continue to contribute within Korea's research ecosystem.

The programme will operate through a process in which research institutes take the lead in identifying and recommending qualified candidates. Each institute must directly select outstanding scholars from among its researchers through its own selection criteria and screening process. It can recommend up to 3 researchers to the ministry who pass the institute's selection process.

Applicants must be scholar-level researchers born on or before Dec. 31, 1964, or aged 61 or older. Eligible applicants are those who have already passed the mandatory retirement age, or who will reach it within 3 years as of the research start date of July 1, 2026.

The ministry plans to begin by selecting about 20 scholar-level researchers this year and add another 20 next year, supporting a total of 40 scholars. Selected researchers will receive about 250 billion won a year in research activity funding for up to 5 years (3+2 years).

Each research institute is required to support the researcher by matching costs equal to the government subsidy, including in-kind support. The lead institution must submit a mandatory letter of commitment from its head detailing support such as research space and experimental equipment so the scholar can focus on research.

More details on the call for proposals can be found on the websites of the ministry and the National Research Foundation of Korea.

Jun-bae Lee (이준배), director general for future talent policy at the Ministry of Science and ICT, said, "We will spare no support so that scholars' research careers can become a key force of national R&D."