The government will launch the "K-Moonshot" project with a goal of reaching 85% of the United States' technology level in strategic technologies by 2030. It plans to shift the research and development (R&D) system to a mission-centered approach and lock in the share of basic research by law to provide long-term support.
The Ministry of Science and ICT reported a "science and technology-based innovation-led growth strategy" at a briefing to President Lee Jae-myung in Sejong on the 12th. First, it will promote "K-Moonshot," a mission-oriented research and development (R&D) project to raise the technology level in five areas—new drugs, humanoids, reduced rare earth use, clean energy, and memory semiconductors—to 85% of the United States' level by 2030. It will gather ideas through a public call for proposals and strengthen cross-ministerial and public-private cooperation through mission-specific task forces and the ministers' meeting on science and technology.
Government-funded research institutes will be reorganized into mission-oriented institutes to solve national grand challenges, taking the abolition of PBS (project-based system) as an opportunity. By 2030, they will secure 100 outcomes in technologies that the public can feel, led by the institutes, and establish academia-industry-research hubs for strategic technologies through 77 strategic research projects.
Basic research will be mandated by law to receive at least 10% of government research and development (R&D) investment, and the beneficiary rates for faculty and full-time faculty will be raised to 30% and 50%, respectively. Universities will adopt performance-based block funding to support investment in research infrastructure.
Next-generation technologies will also gain speed. By 2030, the government will develop five AI-based bio models and, through the early development of a domestically produced quantum computer, foster 1,200 quantum application companies. For SMRs (small modular reactors), it will establish a "next-generation SMR promotion strategy" to invest 1.2 trillion won with the goal of completing a private sector-led ecosystem by 2030, and for nuclear fusion, it will begin a conceptual design of a demonstration reactor aiming for power demonstration in the 2030s.
Talent and regional strategies are also included. AI gifted schools will be established in Gwangju and North Chungcheong, and some regional schools will be converted into institutes affiliated with science and technology institutes. Through the "Brain to Korea" program, the government will attract senior-level overseas researchers and support the return of Korean postdoctoral researchers. The budget for regionally autonomous research and development (R&D) will expand from 160 billion won next year to 1.1 trillion won in 2030, and the number of Laboratory Startup Innovation Units will increase from seven to 19. R&D evaluation will shift from performance-centered to sincerity-centered, and a dedicated program will be created to recognize meaningful research processes even if targets are not met.