The Grants Association for Science and Technology Institutions welcomed the Ministry of Science and ICT's announcement on the gradual abolishment of the 'Project-Based System (PBS)' on the 22nd. The PBS system has been in place since 1996, allowing research institutions to secure national research and development (R&D) projects through competition.
The association noted, "The PBS system has led researchers at the government-funded research institutes (grants) to focus more on individual project awards than the unique R&D missions assigned by the government, which has resulted in a decline in research concentration at these institutes and has accumulated side effects that hinder large-scale research achievements."
The association emphasized that for the government's proposed technology-driven growth strategy to achieve tangible results, stable support for mission-specific R&D should accompany the abolition of the PBS system, along with ensuring operational autonomy, expanding artificial intelligence (AI) technology development, and improving the treatment of scientists.
The Grants Association for Science and Technology Institutions expressed its hope that an environment would be created where scientists can be more dedicated to research, welcoming the Ministry of Science and ICT's gradual abolishment of the PBS system, while requesting the government's continuous interest and support.