The Ministry of Science and ICT announced on the 31st that it has publicized 1,635 new projects for the 2025 personal basic research second phase.
The Ministry of Science and ICT noted, "This second announcement is centered around small projects (70 million won to 100 million won) aimed at enhancing academic diversity and expanding research opportunities."
First, creative research has increased significantly to 885 from 140 last year. Creative research is a middle-sized research project that supports excellent research with an annual research budget of 70 million won. The CIAAT program, which helps new faculty members cultivate research capabilities through securing initial research opportunities, will provide support for around 400 new projects.
A new project called 'pioneering research,' which explores new academic fields based on creative ideas through initial questions regardless of age and experience, has been established with 150 new projects. The pioneering research project will be exempt from the 'one person, one project' principle, and mid-term evaluations will be abolished to allow researchers to conduct challenging research.
Among the national strategic technologies being promoted by the government, a new 'national agenda basic research' allowing researchers to autonomously propose research topics will also be established with 200 new projects.
Hwang Pantsik, head of the research and development policy office at the Ministry of Science and ICT, said, "This year, the basic research project has flexibly operated the timing of project announcements to broaden researchers' choices and secure research stability. We will push forward with this year's basic research project without any setbacks, ensuring adherence to the fundamental purpose of basic research: 'knowledge creation,' and based on a support system that secures 'excellence based on diversity,' we will also actively prepare for the 2026 basic research project."