South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT said on Thursday it has finalised an implementation plan to invest 151.1 billion won in 2026 research and development in climate, environment and energy. The amount is up 75.2 percent from 2025. The plan covers technology development to respond to climate change, including hydrogen energy, carbon dioxide capture and utilisation (CCU), solar cells and climate adaptation.

Under the confirmed plan, the ministry will begin announcing new tasks from late January. The implementation plan includes the budget and business direction for the climate, environment and energy sector within the ministry's overall 2026 R&D project plan confirmed on Jan. 2.

The ministry has expanded cooperation with the private sector since last year, aiming to broaden demonstration of research outcomes and commercialisation linked to industry. Examples include building a demonstration plant for CO2 conversion products with the participation of four companies including Hyundai Engineering & Construction, and the launch of the Clean Hydrogen R&D Innovation Alliance, a consultative body involving industry, academia, research institutes and government in the clean hydrogen sector.

This year, it will launch 10 new projects, including a CCU megaproject. The 10 projects include advancing carbon-negative direct air capture (DAC) technology (5 billion won), a CO2 simultaneous capture-conversion (RCC) converged technology development project (4.5 billion won), a CCU megaproject (20 billion won), building a foundation to operate a CCU certification system (1 billion won), AI-based carbon-free energy utilisation chemical technology development (3.4 billion won), hydrogen convergence innovation technology development (4 billion won), value-up of core clean hydrogen technologies (4.5 billion won), climate technology demonstration research for developing countries (3 billion won), development of next-generation solar cells for Net-zero implementation (5 billion won), and soil-based climate resilience diagnosis and strengthening technology development (1.63 billion won). Detailed information on the new project announcements, including the timing and procedures for calls for proposals, will be provided in late January on the Korea Research Foundation website.

It will also build a virtuous cycle system in which technology development outcomes are applied in the private sector to support achieving the 2035 NDC and transitioning to a carbon-neutral society. The ministry will strengthen public-private cooperation so developed technologies can be linked to commercialisation. It will also strengthen links between technology development and demonstration and will fully operate consultative bodies of demand-side companies by major technology fields, including the Clean Hydrogen R&D Innovation Alliance and the CCU Initiative, to pursue technology development tailored to industrial demand.

It will also build an institutional foundation to link core technology development with industrial fostering. To strengthen the industrial base for CCU, it will establish a system to confirm specialised companies and will prepare notices for certification of CCU technologies and products to support market development for carbon dioxide utilisation technologies and products.

It will newly establish strategies for advanced plasma technology development, CCU industry fostering and technology commercialisation to promote the creation of new industries. It will expand projects using AI and digital technologies. It will apply AI to catalyst and process development to optimise technology development and will advance digital twin technology that simulates changes in the urban environment.

A ministry official said, "As the number of newly 추진되는 사업 increases this year and the budget scale expands, we plan to manage the projects efficiently so they can contribute effectively to responding to the climate crisis through thorough project planning and management."