Revamping the Review System for Large-Scale National R&D Projects, Gathering Field Opinions

The government has begun gathering field opinions regarding the major overhaul of the large-scale national research and development project review system.

On the afternoon of the 1st, the Ministry of Science and ICT held a public briefing session titled "A Paradigm Shift in the Preliminary Feasibility Study of National Research and Development Projects" at Didimdol Plaza of the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology.

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

This briefing session was organized to share with the scientific and technological community the abolition of the existing research and development (R&D) preliminary feasibility study system and the direction of follow-up systems, in connection with the major overhaul of the pre-planning and review system for large-scale national R&D projects, and to broadly collect opinions from the field.

Last year, the government prepared amendments to the National Finance Act and the Framework Act on Science and Technology to implement the abolition of the R&D preliminary feasibility study and the follow-up system. Both bills passed the Cabinet meeting on December 12 last year and were submitted to the National Assembly on December 13.

Currently, the amendment to the Framework Act on Science and Technology is under discussion at the Subcommittee on Bill Examination of the National Assembly’s Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee, while the amendment to the National Finance Act has been referred to the Planning and Finance Committee.

At the briefing session, the R&D Feasibility Review Team of the Ministry of Science and ICT explained the background and necessity of abolishing the R&D preliminary feasibility study system, the progress made so far, and the main contents and expected effects of follow-up systems to be newly introduced, such as the pre-planning inspection system and customized review system reflecting the characteristics of R&D. A Q&A session with attendees was also held.

Ryu Gwang-jun, Director of the Science and Technology Innovation Headquarters, said, "To ensure that national R&D can be operated more strategically and flexibly in response to changing times, we will innovate the system by reflecting voices from the field." He added, "Starting with this briefing session, we will continuously create opportunities to communicate with the research field."