"From Chasing Funding to 'Research That Must Be Done'... Government-Funded Institutes Shift from Competition to Convergence After PBS Abolition"

Moving beyond project competition toward mission-oriented joint research
Visible outcomes at the forefront, from 370 km/h high-speed rail and fire-spread prevention to securing critical minerals

The research system of government-funded research institutes, which had long revolved around competition for project acquisition, is being reorganized into a "mission-oriented" model. Following the abolition of the Project-Based System (PBS), the structure is shifting away from each institute independently securing projects, toward strengthening inter-institute cooperation and convergence research centered on missions required by the state. Through strategic research groups (strategic research programs), the institutes plan to design joint projects and have also presented a vision to deliver tangible outcomes in areas that directly affect people’s daily lives, such as public safety, transportation, and supply chains.

The deputy directors of each institute are introducing their organizations. From the left: Lee Myungjong, Deputy Director of the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM); Kwon Yongjang, Deputy Director of the Korea Railroad Research Institute (KRRI); Moon Byungseop, Deputy Director of the Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology (KICT). Photo by Kim Jonghwa

On the afternoon of the 25th, the Ministry of Science and ICT and the National Research Council of Science & Technology (NST) held a "Press Study on Government-Funded Research Institutes" at the Korea Science and Technology Center in Seoul, where they shared the research directions and post-PBS operational plans of three institutes: the Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology (KICT), the Korea Railroad Research Institute (KRRI), and the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM).

Moon Byungseop, Deputy Director of KICT, said, "Until now, the system was heavily geared toward competition to win projects, but going forward it will shift to a structure that focuses on research that must be carried out as national research institutes." He added, "It is a structure in which autonomy and responsibility grow together," and explained, "Under mid- to long-term goals, we will converge our efforts around missions."

The strategic research groups were mentioned as a concrete mechanism for inter-institute collaboration. Each institute proposes items, which are then combined and developed into joint projects. Deputy Director Moon noted, "Complex social problems like sinkholes are difficult to solve from the perspective of a single institute alone," and assessed, "A structure in which we propose items and combine them is now taking off in earnest."

370 km/h high-speed rail, fire-spread prevention, securing overseas ore... Mission-oriented projects that people can feel firsthand

During the Q&A session, "research that people can immediately feel in their daily lives" emerged as the core theme. The three institutes presented public safety, transportation innovation, and supply chain response as their flagship missions, emphasizing both the "field application" of research outcomes and their "reflection in policy."

Test run of a high-speed train operating at approximately 370 km/h. The vehicle, track, power, and signaling systems are being verified in an integrated test as preparations are made for commercialization. Provided by Korea Railroad Research Institute.

Kwon Yongjang, Deputy Director of KRRI, cited the commercialization of high-speed rail at about 370 km/h as a representative case. He said, "It is not only vehicle technology that needs to be in place, but also the track, power, signaling, and operation systems together," and added, "Preparations are underway this year to move into the commercialization phase."

KRRI is a rail-specialized government-funded research institute that conducts research and demonstration not only on high-speed and urban rail but also on future transportation systems such as hydrogen trains and hyper-tubes. Deputy Director Kwon stated, "Railways are a system industry, so cooperation is a prerequisite," and added, "We will also work to secure technological competitiveness in overseas markets."

Deputy Director Moon cited building fire-spread prevention technologies and urban flooding response research as outcomes that people can directly feel. He stressed, "Fire safety does not end with technology development; it must be incorporated into national standards and regulations so that it is applied uniformly in the field."

KICT is an institute that researches the safety and performance of national infrastructure across roads, bridges, ground, buildings, and water resources, and establishes construction standards. Deputy Director Moon explained, "Urban flooding issues also require an approach that looks at drainage, rivers, and urban structure together."

An experimental scene verifying the fire spread characteristics of building materials. The research findings will be reflected in national construction standards and regulatory reforms. Provided by the Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology.

Deputy Director Lee Myungjong of KIGAM presented securing overseas ore deposits and responding to supply chains for critical minerals as key missions. He said, "We must secure not only ore deposits but also processing technologies in order to respond to supply chain risks."

KIGAM is responsible for national resource security and land safety, carrying out geological surveys; exploration of mineral and energy resources; and research on geological disasters such as earthquakes and landslides. Deputy Director Lee stated, "We will advance related technologies through strategic research programs."

"Strengthening expertise while letting cooperation happen naturally"

In response to a question on whether the scope of research would expand indiscriminately after the abolition of PBS, the participants explained that "strengthening expertise" and "expanding cooperation" would proceed simultaneously. The intention is not for each institute to expand into all areas, but rather to sharpen their specialization while increasing points of contact through joint, mission-oriented projects.

Deputy Director Moon pointed out, "In a situation where we are competing with the entire world, there are limits if we only compete among ourselves," and added, "We are making our areas of expertise even clearer, while building structures through strategic research groups that allow us to be brought together."

Deputy Director Kwon emphasized, "In complex industries like railways, cooperation is a prerequisite," and said, "It is a structure that naturally has no other choice but to move toward convergence."

Deputy Director Lee forecast, "When we move to strategic, mission-oriented projects, the basic projects naturally lead into convergence research," and added, "Cooperation among institutes will actually increase."