The government will invest more than 200 trillion won in national research and development over the next five years. Its proposed government R&D budget for next year is 39.5 trillion won, up 11.2 percent from this year.

The National Science and Technology Advisory Council said on Sept. 1 it held its ninth deliberation meeting on Aug. 31 chaired by Vice Chair Lee Kyung-soo (이경수) and deliberated and approved the fifth basic plan for fostering and supporting science and technology talent (2026 to 2030) and the second mid- to long-term national R&D investment strategy (2026 to 2030). The council also received the proposed 2027 national R&D project budget plan on the day.

Over 200 trillion won in R&D over five years; focus on three mega projects and seven SEED areas

Under the second mid- to long-term national R&D investment strategy, the government decided to invest more than 200 trillion won in government R&D from 2026 to 2030. The strategy is used each year as a standard for the direction of R&D investment and for budget allocation and adjustment.

The government has designated semiconductors, AI data centres and physical AI as three mega projects. It aims to maintain semiconductor manufacturing competitiveness and raise the self-reliance rate for materials, parts and equipment from 30 percent to 50 percent. It also aims to lift its global AI competitiveness ranking to third from fifth and to push to become the global No. 1 in physical AI by 2030.

It will also focus on fostering seven SEED areas that group next-generation frontier fields such as advanced bio, quantum and aerospace with future clean energy such as small modular reactors, nuclear fusion and renewable energy, and advanced supply chains. The government set key goals of developing 3 blockbuster new drugs by 2030, securing a domestically made full-stack quantum computer product, and achieving the country’s first private-sector-led moon landing.

The share of regional autonomous R&D planned and implemented directly by regions will be expanded to 15 percent from 4.2 percent of the total regional R&D budget. It will also create an environment in which researchers can focus on research by abolishing the project-based system at government-funded research institutes and expanding block funding for basic research.

Next year’s government R&D budget at 39.5 trillion won; record 3.3 trillion won for new projects

The proposed 2027 government R&D budget is 39.5 trillion won, up 4 trillion won, or 11.2 percent, from this year. Major R&D budgets allocated and adjusted by the Ministry of Science and ICT’s science and technology innovation headquarters total 33.8 trillion won, up 3.5 trillion won, or 11.5 percent. This means the government R&D budget growth rate will remain in double digits next year after 19.9 percent this year. It also exceeds the 7.2 percent annual average increase over the past 20 years.

The government will invest a record 3.3 trillion won in new R&D projects. For large R&D projects with total costs of at least 100 billion won, it will shorten the project plan review period from about 2 years to about 3 months after abolishing preliminary feasibility studies to speed up investment.

The science ministry previously reviewed 38 large projects and reflected 23 in next year’s budget. Jae-heun Lee (이재흔), director general for R&D investment deliberation at the science ministry, said, “Over 3 months, expert members of the advisory council and private-sector experts examined the completeness of planning for 38 projects and the efficiency of investment.” He added, “After multilayered review, we decided to newly reflect 23 projects.”

Investment in 10 NEXT strategic technology fields will be expanded to 13.8 trillion won next year from 11 trillion won this year. Of that, 5.8 trillion won will go to R&D for the three mega projects, including semiconductors, physical AI and AI data centres, and 3.7 trillion won will be invested in R&D for the seven SEED areas, including small modular reactors, renewable energy, nuclear fusion, quantum, aerospace, advanced bio and advanced supply chains.

It will also expand investment-oriented R&D, regional autonomous R&D, and defence and K-defence industry R&D. It will strengthen investment in R&D directly linked to people’s daily lives, including fostering young people and talent, expanding basic research projects, providing stable labour costs for government-funded research institutes, and disaster safety.

Building a “Brain Highway” for science and technology talent; stepping up efforts to secure regional and overseas talent

The government also finalised the fifth basic plan for fostering and supporting science and technology talent, which sets out policy directions for the next five years. It aims to overcome a national crisis such as a declining school-age population and avoidance of science and engineering majors and to create an environment in which Korea’s science and technology talent can thrive on the global stage.

The government set out a vision of making the country one where people want to become science and technology professionals and where they are respected, and will build a “Brain Highway” that runs from talent inflow to growth and activity. It set three policy goals: securing a stable supply of science and technology talent aligned with industrial and social demand, intensively fostering key talent to lead innovation, and building a full life-cycle growth safety net for science and technology talent.

It will increase quality jobs for young people in science and engineering and strengthen rewards for research results and research autonomy. Alongside fostering innovative talent to lead the AI era, it will build a virtuous cycle of local talent centred on regional hub universities and four science and technology institutes. It will also fully launch a “National Science and Technology Professionals” programme under which the state directly identifies and supports world-class researchers.

To attract outstanding overseas talent, it will also strengthen settlement support linking visas and employment. It will support women and highly experienced science and technology professionals returning to research sites and build a cross-ministerial talent policy cooperation system centred on the deputy prime minister for science and technology.

The government plans to draw up a joint implementation plan each year with relevant ministries and check policy progress under the basic plan. The advisory council said it “expects that the vision of driving national innovation-led growth and enabling Korean talent to perform at a world-class level can be realised through the smooth implementation of this plan.”