The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) said Korea has world-class capacity for science and technology innovation, noting it recorded the second-highest ratio of research and development (R&D) investment to gross domestic product (GDP) among member countries. However, it also noted that improvements are needed in inclusiveness and sustainability, such as the share of women researchers falling short of the OECD average.
The Ministry of Science and ICT said on the 30th that the OECD officially released its Science, Technology and Innovation Outlook 2025 (STI Outlook 2025) report at the 127th meeting of the Committee for Scientific and Technological Policy (CSTP) on the 28th local time. The report is a major policy document that the OECD publishes every two years analyzing trends in science, technology and innovation in member countries and major nonmembers.
According to the report, the OECD assessed that Korea has the second-highest share of R&D investment relative to GDP among member countries. In particular, it gave a positive assessment that support for corporations' R&D is run in a balanced manner through various means such as direct support and tax incentives. Korea's carbon capture and utilization (CCU) demonstration support center and plans to strengthen research security systems were also introduced as exemplary policy cases.
Meanwhile, the OECD noted that while the average R&D investment ratio of member countries has stagnated at about 2.7% of GDP, the share of international joint research in the United States and the European Union (EU) has also slowed in growth since 2018. In contrast, the share of the energy sector in government R&D budgets increased 2.3 times in 2023 compared with 2015, and the number of countries that introduced research security regimes exceeded 40, indicating that interest in energy and technology security is expanding rapidly.
Amid these changes, the OECD presented three policy frames—promotion, protection, and projection—and three principles—proportionality, partnership, and precision—to balance scientific openness and economic security.
The report projected that convergence in cutting-edge fields such as Synthetic Biology, neurotechnology, quantum technology, and space-based Earth observation is changing the speed and direction of innovation and will serve as a key factor in future global competitiveness.
It also urged a shift in science and technology policy away from a simple R&D focus toward solving social problems and inclusive innovation, and toward a more sustainable development direction.
The Ministry of Science and ICT said the thrust of the OECD report aligns with the government's mission-oriented innovation policy (MOIP). The government will share the report with relevant ministries to reflect it in policy discussions and will also consider expanding the scope of cooperation with the OECD into practical areas such as technology commercialization. Marking the 30th anniversary of OECD membership next year, it plans to publish a Korean-language summary of the report and hold a briefing session jointly with the OECD to share key takeaways with experts.
Vice Minister Ku Hyuk-chae of the Ministry of Science and ICT said, "This OECD Science, Technology and Innovation Outlook underscores the importance of synergies between technology convergence and policy," adding, "Korea will leap forward as a leading nation in science and technology innovation through international cooperation and mission-oriented innovation policy."