Ryu Gwang-jun, Head of the Science and Technology Innovation Headquarters, "Establishing a Strategic Support System for Basic Research"

Listening to Expert Opinions from Academic Societies in Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Biology, Electrochemistry, Information Science, and Chemistry

Ryu Gwang-jun, Director of the Science and Technology Innovation Headquarters at the Ministry of Science and ICT, stated on the 26th, "We will establish a strategic support system for basic research, which is the foundation and improves the constitution of national research and development, to enhance investment outcomes."

Ryu Gwang-jun, Director General of the Science and Technology Innovation Bureau at the Ministry of Science and ICT, is speaking. Photo by Yonhap News.

On the same day, Director Ryu said at a meeting held at Seoul Station with experts representing related academic societies to discuss the '2026 Government R&D Investment Direction and Mid- to Long-term Investment Strategy for Basic and Fundamental Fields,' "Based on the initial investment in the era of 30 trillion won government R&D, we must create scientific and technological innovation to support sustainable growth."

The meeting was organized to gather opinions from academia and other related experts on the investment direction, which serves as the basic guideline for the allocation and adjustment of the 2026 government R&D budget, and on the mid- to long-term investment strategy to improve the qualitative outcomes of basic research, which has seen continuous government investment increases.

Seven academic society representatives attended the meeting, including Kwak Si-jong, President of the Korean Mathematical Society; Bae Jung-myeon, President of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers; Shin Byung-seok, President of the Korean Institute of Information Scientists and Engineers; Yoon Jin-hee, President of the Korean Physical Society; Lee Jae-jun, President of the Korean Electrochemical Society; Lee Pil-ho, President of the Korean Chemical Society; and Jung Sun-joo, President of the Korean Society for Molecular and Cellular Biology. Discussions focused on concentrated cultivation of innovative technologies that will change the future industrial landscape, securing a vision for national R&D innovation, and strengthening the scientific and technological capabilities.