The Korea Federation of Science and Technology Societies launched a "Special Committee for a Better Science and Technology Society" to create a fair science and technology ecosystem, it said on Sunday.

The committee was set up to improve irrational and unfair practices that have been raised at research sites. Jae-min Park (박재민), co-head of the federation and a Konkuk University professor, was appointed chairman.

The committee will focus on building a research and development environment that allows researchers to devote themselves solely to research. To that end, it set five tasks and will pursue institutional improvements: protecting researchers’ rights and human rights; protecting intellectual property; protecting researchers in cases involving technology leakage; identifying cases of infringements on autonomy in the research environment; and ensuring fairness in recruitment and personnel matters.

The federation will establish an investigative body, the Better Society Public Interest Center, under the committee. It will receive reports of rights violations and unfair cases at research sites, review them and provide legal advice support.

Jun-mo Ahn (안준모), the federation’s standing representative and a Korea University professor, said scientific and technological progress is possible only when researchers’ autonomy and fair opportunities are guaranteed. He said the committee would increase transparency in the science and technology ecosystem.

Chairman Park said he has consistently called for fundamental reforms to the national R&D system and researcher-centered changes. He said the committee would not stop at pointing out unfairness and would work with the government and the National Assembly to present directions for institutional improvements that can restore researchers’ pride.

The federation will also continuously accept submissions on unfair cases and proposals for institutional improvements through its website. Based on them, it will work to draw up policy recommendations and hold a discussion forum at the National Assembly.