The government has finalized a concrete blueprint for next year's research and development (R&D) budget. The policy is to expand aggressive investments, focusing on the field of artificial intelligence (AI).
On the 13th, the Ministry of Science and ICT held its 68th operating committee meeting of the National Science and Technology Advisory Council and reviewed and passed the '2026 direction and guidelines for national research and development investment.' The committee includes 21 government commissioners and 13 private commissioners, including the chairperson.
The Ministry of Science and ICT presented a vision to drive innovation-led growth based on science and technology. The plan is to focus on creating economic value so that R&D outcomes lead to leaps in the economy.
To this end, it will actively invest in fostering core growth engines. Focusing on AI, investments will be heavily directed towards game-changing technologies such as quantum and advanced bio, as well as an increase in investments in our key industries like semiconductors, displays, and secondary batteries.
Furthermore, efforts will be made to expand scale-up investments in technology commercialization so that R&D outcomes can have a direct impact on the real economy, maximizing the overall innovative capacity of the nation. A cross-ministerial technology commercialization ecosystem will be established to support the creation of large-scale outcomes, and selective support will be provided to leading innovative companies in national strategic technology sectors.
Measures will also be established to attract domestic and international science and technology talents and support their settlement in the country. The plan focuses on cultivating high-level talents who can be immediately utilized in the research and industrial fields of strategic technology sectors where manpower is urgently needed.
Institutional improvements will be pursued, including the completion of the abolition of R&D preliminary feasibility studies and the rapid introduction of research equipment through negotiated contracts. Communication channels for public-private cooperation will be strengthened, and resources for private investment will also be expanded through a large-scale innovation fund.
Ryu Kwang-jun, head of the Science and Technology Innovation Headquarters, noted, "To adequately prepare for the future of South Korea, we have had more deliberation and discussion than ever regarding next year's direction for national research and development investment," and urged, "Each ministry should plan effective and executable projects in line with the investment direction and request the necessary budget."