The Ministry of Science and ICT announced on the 21st through its website a list of 39 innovation challenge-type research and development (R&D) projects, including 7 additional designated projects for 2025.
APRO R&D is a project that selects and designates R&D projects that aim for world-class or first-level research achievements, with a high possibility of failure but potential for revolutionary impact upon success. 'APRO' is an acronym for Aim High, Problem-solving, Revolution, Over&over. The Ministry of Science and ICT has been discovering and reviewing candidate projects since April, and finalized the additional designation procedure after the deliberation of the 3rd Special Committee for Innovation Challenge held on June 25.
The 7 additional designated projects include resource circulation-type ultra-high energy density fuel-type aluminum air batteries, future paradigm projects, and support for artificial intelligence (AI) champion projects. Each project is pursued with the goals of world-first technology development, creation of new industrial ecosystems, and securing innovative AI technologies.
Of the 7 additional projects, 4 are 'intensive management-type' projects that grant the overall manager authority and responsibility for planning, selection, and evaluation of innovation challenge-type tasks, allowing for close management. The remaining 3 adopt a competitive approach, applying competition for planning, selection of multiple projects for the same goal, and disclosing the process, results, and evaluations in a 'public competition-type' manner.
Starting next year, the newly designated projects to be solicited will receive tailored institutional support to actively pursue high-risk, challenge-type research, similar to existing projects, without fear of failure. When introducing research facilities or equipment, expedited procurement through negotiated contracts will be possible, shortening the introduction period from over 120 days to about 50 days, and during final evaluations of projects, a process-oriented evaluation system will be applied regardless of success or failure. For excellent outcomes, follow-up research will be allowed without a solicitation process to maximize industrial ripple effects, and legitimate failures resulting from bold challenges can be concluded without sanctions.
The Ministry of Science and ICT plans to continue a systematic nurturing policy by granting overall managers full authority for research management on the APRO R&D projects in the future, along with improvements to relevant legislation, development of competency diagnosis models, and operation of training programs.
Park In-kyu, head of the Science and Technology Innovation Bureau, noted, "In the era of technological hegemony competition, it is essential to create an environment where researchers can freely challenge high-difficulty research without fear of failure for the future survival and prosperity of the nation," and added, "We will continue to strive to resolve the challenges in research fields and activate challenge-type R&D through the promotion of the innovation challenge-type APRO R&D policy."