On November 27, 2023, Lee Jong-ho, the then Minister of Science and ICT, is announcing the 'Yoon Suk-yeol Government R&D Innovation Plan' and 'Global R&D Promotion Strategy' at the Government Seoul Building in Jongno-gu, Seoul./News1

On the 18th, the Ministry of Science and ICT reported on its work to the National Planning and Advisory Committee. Although the artificial intelligence (AI) sector received the spotlight, various plans for restoring the research and development (R&D) ecosystem were also included in significant detail.

Notably, the Ministry of Science and ICT's change in position regarding R&D budget cuts under the Yoon Suk-yeol government is striking. Despite criticism from the scientific community, the ministry, which previously did not acknowledge the issues, recognized the various side effects of the R&D budget cuts and promised swift improvements. The scientific community responded, saying, "This is akin to an acknowledgment of wrongdoing."

First, the Ministry of Science and ICT stated that it would overhaul the basic research support system to expand the research ecosystem. It noted that the number of basic research projects decreased from 14,912 in 2023 to 11,829 this year and criticized itself for concentrating research funding on a few large projects as "excessive selection and concentration." It also acknowledged that the unilateral shift to global R&D and blanket budget cuts to ongoing project research funding "harmed research autonomy and predictability."

It also apologized for abolishing small projects under 100 million won. The ministry noted in its report that "the abolition of grassroots projects hinders academic diversity and threatens the research safety net for newly appointed faculty and researchers located in provincial areas."

Just a month ago, the ministry's position was different. In a press release distributed on the 26th of last month, the Ministry of Science and ICT stated, "To transition to leading R&D, the existing small-scale projects (30 million to 50 million won annually) have limitations in responding to the changed research environment, and will be abolished starting in 2024, while various new projects of appropriate scale (around 100 million won annually) have been expanded." It defended the need for R&D budget cuts and a reduction in the number of projects even after the Yoon Suk-yeol government took office.

However, on the day of the work report, the stance changed 180 degrees as it acknowledged that it had harmed the research ecosystem. The Ministry of Science and ICT announced the revival of small projects. As a special measure to enhance the research safety net, plans for the establishment of grassroots research A to C types were included in the report. Grassroots research type A, which supports newly appointed researchers with 50 million won annually for three years, and grassroots research type C, which supports researchers at risk of career interruption with 50 million won annually for three years, are projects that the ministry deemed unnecessary just two years ago.

The ministry stated it would additionally request a budget of 75 billion won for the revival of grassroots basic research. It also promised to increase the benefit rate for full-time faculty research. The benefit rate for full-time faculty research dropped from 54.9% in 2023 to 43.7% this year due to R&D budget cuts. The ministry stated that it would raise this rate to 55% next year.

Specific plans for restoring the R&D ecosystem are expected to be announced around September. The Ministry of Science and ICT stated that it would release a "scientific and technological innovation strategy" that reflects the new government's science and technology innovation policies and promises in September. Measures to expand R&D investment and improve the research ecosystem centered on autonomy and participation, as well as reforming a researcher-friendly R&D system, are expected to be included.