The Ministry of Science and ICT and the National Research Council of Science & Technology (NST) said on the 1st that they held a launch ceremony for the "2025 Global TOP Strategic Research Groups." The project aims for government-funded research institutes to work with industry, academia, and research to carry out large-scale convergence research, fulfill national missions, and deliver world-class outcomes.
The government is expanding institutional and financial support, including the phased abolition of the project-based system (PBS) and the introduction of the national special mission researcher system, and is restructuring the framework so that government-funded research institutes can serve as the hub of national research and development.
The Global TOP Strategic Research Groups primarily aim to redefine the core role of government-funded research institutes around achieving national strategic missions while creating results that contribute to the nation and society and that the public can feel in the era of global technological hegemony.
At the launch ceremony, the research and development background and goals of 10 strategic research groups were introduced, and specific research and development plans of some groups, including super quantum computing and artificial intelligence (AI) humanoids, were also unveiled.
Lee Eun-young, director-general for research performance and innovation at the Ministry of Science and ICT, said, "The launch of the Global TOP Strategic Research Groups is an important step for government-funded research institutes to support Korea's growth and leap forward," adding, "The government will spare no effort to help the groups take pride and immerse themselves in their research."
Kim Young-sik, chair of the National Research Council of Science & Technology (NST), said, "We will provide full support so that the strategic research groups can produce the results the public needs."