We need to select a national-level project manager (PM) who has the authority to lead challenging and innovative research and development (R&D) projects, but due to related regulations, we had no choice but to hire through a blind process (non-disclosure of personal information). There is a question of whether it is appropriate to select a national representative through a blind process. We even applied for consulting with the Board of Audit and Inspection to verify if this regulation is correct. We need to establish a system that allows us to properly select PMs.
Seon Gyeong, the head of the Korean version of the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) project, expressed difficulties in selecting a PM responsible for the project during a public hearing on improving the innovation-challenge system held at the Government Sejong Building auditorium on the 16th. The ARPA-H project is one of the 'Innovation Challenge R&D Projects (ARPO).' ARPO is a system that identifies and supports projects that challenge the highest global standards, categorized as the world's first innovative technology among R&D projects carried out by government ministries. Starting this year, 35 projects have been selected from nine ministries, with a budget of more than 1 trillion won allocated for next year.
The public hearing held that day was organized to explore system improvement plans that would allow the innovation challenge R&D projects to be successfully established. The Korean version of the ARPA-H project, led by Director General Seon Gyeong, was launched this year, modeled after the U.S. health sector's innovative R&D project, ARPA-H (Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health). Seon Gyeong, a thoracic surgeon and physician-scientist who has led the practical application of artificial hearts in Korea, serves as the project director.
Director General Seon pointed out areas needing improvement based on nearly a year of experience leading the ARPA-H project. The most emphasized issue was the need to reform the PM system. A PM is a project manager who leads research projects. In the case of the innovation challenge R&D project, the powers given to the PM are more extensive and far-reaching.
Director General Seon noted, "To strengthen the authority of the PM, there is a prerequisite that we must select the right PM," and said, "We had to hire a PM for the ARPA-H project through a blind process, but fortunately, a good person came in. However, I questioned whether it was appropriate to select in this manner." He added, "If we truly intend to undertake challenging and innovative projects, hiring a PM through a blind process does not make sense. We need a system that enables us to properly select PMs."
It is not the case that hiring PMs through a blind process applies to all innovation-challenge type R&D projects. The ARPA-H project conducts the hiring process through outsourcing, which is why they are proceeding with a blind hiring process. In many cases, when hiring PMs internally, the process is not blind. However, there is a concern that the necessity of hiring a PM through a blind process, regardless of whether it is outsourced or conducted internally, is problematic.
Choi Young-jin, the head of the Challenge Limit Strategy Center at the National Research Foundation of Korea under the Ministry of Science and ICT's innovation challenge R&D project, raised the issue of budget execution. Center Head Choi said, "When presenting challenging problems, there are times when it is difficult to find researchers in Korea to carry out the project," and added, "There are times when project selection does not happen. If that occurs, we are unable to use the budget, which leads to it being deemed as surplus, and it gets flagged by the Board of Audit and Inspection and the National Assembly as a problematic project."
Center Head Choi said, "To avoid surplus processing, a contradiction arises where we have no choice but to select underqualified researchers," and added, "It would be beneficial to improve the system so that surplus budgets can be carried over." He further mentioned that the innovation challenge R&D project should allow for flexible budget establishment when drafting budgets, similar to block funding.
Song Young-hoon, the director general of the Plasma Utilization Waste Organic Matter High-Value Basic Raw Materials Project, pointed out issues with evaluation. Director General Song stated, "Our project will end in June next year, and I received contact that the National Research Foundation of Korea intends to conduct an immediate evaluation," and expressed, "In many cases, it takes several years for research results from the innovation challenge R&D project to be accepted in society. If evaluations are conducted immediately after the project ends, even excellent research may not receive proper evaluation."
As the innovation challenge-type R&D project is a key policy of President Yoon Suk-yeol, concerns were raised that the project might become difficult to pursue amid political turmoil. Indeed, several innovation challenge-type R&D projects are experiencing difficulties due to budget cuts. The budget for the Korean version of the ARPA-H project has been cut by 6.9 billion won compared to the government's proposal for next year, and the Challenge Limit project had its planned increase reviewed by the National Assembly but ultimately failed to secure the increase.
The Ministry of Science and ICT announced that it will summarize the points raised by experts and reflect them in policy. Lee Woo-jin, Director of Science and Technology Policy Coordination at the Ministry of Science and ICT, said, "We will amend the portions of the innovation law and enforcement regulations that need modification during the first half of next year, and revise those that can be actively interpreted through manuals."
Specifically, the Ministry of Science and ICT plans to discuss with the Ministry of Strategy and Finance the proposal to amend the law so that when there are no appropriate researchers, the budget can be declared surplus and carried over. Director Lee added, "We will prepare reform proposals based on specific cases with the Ministry of Strategy and Finance."