South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT will hold a briefing on the 2027 national research and development (R&D) programme budget in and around Sejong from May 11 to May 15.

The ministry said on May 11 that under the Framework Act on Science and Technology, the Office of Science and Technology Innovation allocates and adjusts next year's budget for major national R&D programmes each year. It sends the results to the Ministry of Strategy and Finance by June 30 each year after deliberation and resolution by the National Science and Technology Advisory Council.

The briefing is an opportunity for 166 expert committee members by technology field under the advisory council's steering committee to review key details of the 2027 government R&D programmes. The committee members, made up of private-sector experts, will hear programme details from ministry officials and present review opinions on the appropriateness of technology development, the need for government support, the suitability of the budget size and efficiency measures.

The Office of Science and Technology Innovation will draw up a budget allocation and adjustment plan by the end of next month. It will comprehensively consider the expert committee's review results from the briefing, budget planning guidelines, the "2027 national R&D investment direction and standards", related government policies and national R&D investment strategies.

Starting this year, it will also use a specialised artificial intelligence (AI) service to support national R&D budget deliberations. It plans to use it to review whether programmes are similar or overlapping and reduce the burden of preparing deliberation materials, supporting objective and efficient budget deliberations.

Park In-kyu (박인규), head of the Office of Science and Technology Innovation, said, "In line with the investment direction established in March, we will aim to create innovation outcomes that all the people can enjoy through science and technology and AI. We will block waste factors and boldly invest in fields that are truly necessary to expand outcomes the public can feel."