"R&D Research Funding Cut Due to 'Cartel' Regulation Must Be Restored"

Will R&D Budget Be Fully Restored?

As the National Fiscal Strategy Meeting, which will outline the restoration of national research and development (R&D), approaches, the scientific community has begun to raise its voice.

The Korea Federation of Science and Technology Organizations (KOFSTO), composed of 13 scientific and technological groups, demanded on the 30th in a statement that the government fully restore the cut R&D research funds. In addition to restoring research funds, KOFSTO also called for ▲opposition to the hasty introduction of relative evaluation systems ▲restoration of the devastated research field ▲reflection of the research field's voice in the formulation of science and technology policies.

President Yoon Suk-yeol visited the special exhibition at the National Gwacheon Science Museum in Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, on the 22nd, following the 2024 Science and Technology and Information and Communication Day ceremony. He observed students from the science club of Munwon Middle School in Gwacheon experiencing space communication. [Image source=Yonhap News]

KOFSTO pointed out, "Last year, the government plunged the scientific community into great despair by labeling it a 'cartel' and implementing large-scale R&D budget cuts," adding, "Ongoing research projects have been halted due to budget shortages and personnel outflows, causing irreparable damage."

KOFSTO suggested that if the cartel is the problem, it would be reasonable to clearly define what the cartel is and punish researchers who engaged in illegal activities, stating, "Without clearly identifying and improving the 'cartel,' the government unilaterally slashed the budgets of numerous ongoing research projects, effectively breaking the backbone of research."

KOFSTO expressed that despite the scientific community complying with government policies, it has fallen into despair after being labeled an ‘R&D cartel,’ urging that the science and technology sector should not be devastated by political framing and that full support should be provided to restore the research field. KOFSTO also criticized the hastily introduced R&D project relative evaluation system for damaging domestic basic research.

KOFSTO includes participation from the Korean Patent Attorneys Association, the Federation of Scientists and Engineers in Government-Funded Research Institutes, the Science and Technology and Society Development Solidarity, the Science Museum and Culture, the Korea Federation of Science and Technology Entrepreneurs, the Korean Veterinary Medical Association, the Intellectual Property Forum, the Advanced Medical Bio Research Institute, the Advanced Medical Product Approval and Demonstration Research Institute, the Korea Science Culture Education Organizations Federation, the Korea University Invention Association, the Korean Women’s Maritime Forum, and the Korea Technology Society.