Sangwook Park, Chief of Science and Technology, "Will Ride the New High-Speed Track of R&D"
Restructuring and Increased Funding to Proceed in Two Tracks
Park Sang-wook, Chief of Science and Technology at the Presidential Office, is giving a briefing on the direction of reform for research and development (R&D) support at the Presidential Office building in Yongsan, Seoul, on the 3rd. [Image source=Yonhap News]
The Presidential Office announced on the 2nd that it will raise next year’s research and development (R&D) budget to an all-time high and drastically improve the preliminary feasibility study (PFS), which hinders timeliness, to transform into an 'R&D-worthy R&D.' Since there is sufficient consensus among ministries on the need to increase the R&D budget, the plan is to pursue both structural adjustments and budget increases in parallel as two tracks.
Park Sang-wook, Senior Secretary for Science and Technology, said at a briefing at the Yongsan Presidential Office on the same day, "We will enable Korean R&D to switch from the existing track to a new high-speed lane." He added, "It is difficult to say that the reform of the government’s R&D support method is complete, but in the unprecedentedly rapid wave of technological changes as the world races in technology competition, we cannot just focus on reform efforts. While carrying out reforms, we intend to significantly increase next year’s R&D budget."
"Budget Increase Is Not a Restoration of Cut Budgets"
In particular, Senior Secretary Park explained that the increase in next year’s R&D budget is not a restoration of previously cut budgets, as some have expressed concern. A senior official from the Presidential Office also conveyed the atmosphere, saying, "There is the highest-ever consensus on the level targeted by President Yoon, economic ministries, and the Innovation Headquarters." However, Park added, "We will conduct demand surveys from the ministries that require R&D projects, and there are parts of existing projects that need structural adjustments. Since we have to comprehensively calculate projects that will be removed and new projects that will be added, it will take a few more months to come up with specific figures."
The government plans to first drastically improve the R&D PFS so that support can be provided immediately when research funds are needed. This reflects criticism that the R&D PFS sometimes hinders the timeliness of R&D. A Presidential Office official explained, "Recently, the government has applied PFS exemptions for essential missions or research, and we can actively utilize this or relax PFS requirements. We are also open to possibilities such as relaxing the upper limit on government financial input or even more revolutionary measures." Additionally, the plan is to invest 1 trillion won in innovative and challenge-type R&D projects next year and increase this to 5% of the government’s R&D budget by 2027. Currently, four ministries are promoting a total of six projects under innovative and challenge-type R&D, and additional related projects will be discovered.
Regarding the continued strong opposition from the science and technology community to R&D budget cuts, the official said, "Many adjustments have been made through the dedicated and sacrificial cooperation of researchers, and it is true that this has caused pain to researchers. Even if there are unfinished reform tasks, next year’s significant budget increase is an urgent situation, so we will continue the work to make R&D truly R&D while pursuing science and technology policy through both budget increases and two-track approaches," emphasizing the approach.
Park Sang-wook, Chief of Science and Technology at the Presidential Office, is giving a briefing on the direction of reform for research and development (R&D) support at the Presidential Office building in Yongsan, Seoul, on the 3rd. [Image source=Yonhap News]
President Yoon emphasized four essential requirements for 'R&D-worthy R&D': ▲ timely and rapid support when needed ▲ trusting and supporting researchers while transparently disclosing to the public ▲ breaking down barriers among ministries, research institutes, and the nation and cooperating on a global scale ▲ transforming the R&D system and culture into a 'first mover' and nurturing future talent through basic support, according to Senior Secretary Park.
Abolition of Micro Regulations and Introduction of Evaluator Mileage System
Furthermore, micro regulations that constrain research sites will be abolished, and information including the use of research funds and outcomes will be transparently disclosed online to support a trust-based research environment. The 'evaluator mileage system' for selecting research projects and evaluating results is also being designed now, aiming to start next year.
Senior Secretary Park said, "We will break down walls between research institutes and research hospitals to strengthen connections and dramatically enhance the competitiveness of university-affiliated research institutes through 'block funding.'" The research ecosystem will also expand globally. The government plans to participate in multilateral R&D cooperation platforms such as 'Horizon Europe,' increase global flagship programs through top-level diplomacy, and expand support for joint research between domestic and overseas universities.
Support for individual basic research will also be strengthened. Senior Secretary Park stated, "We will introduce stipends to support the living expenses of graduate students in science and engineering so they can focus on research, and significantly increase research funding to help young researchers settle in." He added, "The Presidential Office will work closely with relevant ministries to communicate more with researchers and research administration staff to ensure that the announced R&D-worthy R&D is quickly established."
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