'All Research Institutes as One Team'... Launch of the 'Global Top Strategy Group' for World-Class Technology Development

Selected 5 Projects for Initial Start
Allocated First Budget of 100 Billion Won

The Ministry of Science and ICT and the National Science and Technology Council (NST) held the launch ceremony of the 'Global Top Strategic Research Groups' on the 16th at the National Science Museum in Daejeon, aiming for the 'Next Government-Funded Research Institutes' to advance government-funded research institutes in the field of science and technology.

Minister Yoo Sang-im of the Ministry of Science and ICT is delivering a commemorative speech at the launch ceremony of the 'Global Top Strategy Group' held at the National Science Museum on the 16th. Photo by Baek Jong-min

This launch ceremony was organized as part of a blueprint presenting the changing research directions along with the government's announcement of the removal of public institution designation for government-funded research institutes and reform plans this year.

The Ministry of Science and ICT proposed a budget of approximately 100 billion KRW for all government-funded research institutes and suggested the submission of convergence research projects. After intense competition, five final projects were selected.

The strategic groups selected for each project are ▲ Secondary Battery Strategic Research Group ▲ Gene and Cell Therapy Strategic Research Group ▲ Virtual Reactor Strategic Research Group ▲ Semiconductor Strategic Research Group ▲ Hydrogen Storage and Utilization Strategic Research Group.

The launch ceremony was held to declare the determination for transformation and leap forward to produce large-scale achievements as a national research institution by removing barriers between government-funded research institutes and to promote the mission plans and goals of each strategic research group.

Minister Yoo Sang-im of the Ministry of Science and ICT stated, “Government-funded research institutes must advance as the 'Next Government-Funded Research Institutes' that perform national missions such as securing strategic technologies based on collective intelligence and produce large-scale achievements. The ‘Global TOP Strategic Research Groups’ will be the first step toward this.” He added, “The government will become one team with the government-funded research institutes and will spare no necessary support so that these institutes can transform South Korea’s innovation ecosystem from a follower to a leader once again.”

Kim Bok-cheol, Chairman of NST, said, “An opportunity has been created for government-funded research institutes to be reborn as research institutions centered on national missions, and the strategic research groups launched this time will serve as the primer. We will continue to do our best to ensure that government-funded research institutes become more accessible to the public.”