The Ministry of Science and ICT held a kickoff meeting at 2 p.m. on the 20th at Koreana Hotel in Seoul to establish the Sixth Basic Plan for Science and Technology and the Second Mid- to Long-term National Research and Development Investment Strategy (2026-2030).
The basic plan for science and technology is the highest-level statutory plan related to science and technology established under the Framework Act on Science and Technology. The mid- to long-term national research and development investment strategy is a statutory plan that sets strategic investment goals and directions for the national research and development budget over the next five years and serves as a basis for budget allocation and coordination.
In this basic plan, the Ministry of Science and ICT will consider creating an environment where researchers can focus on challenging research and strengthening the capabilities of key players such as universities, corporations, and government-funded research institutes. Along with discussions to strengthen AI-based capabilities, it plans to pursue technology-led growth by intensively fostering future strategic technologies such as AI, robotics, and bio, and to present plans that also include tasks for sustainability and "growth for all," such as regions, safety, and the environment.
A total of 100 experts from various fields, including not only science and technology but also the social sciences, humanities, and the economy, will take part in the establishment process, and Yoon Ui-joon, Chairperson of The National Academy of Engineering of Korea, has been appointed as the overall head of the establishment committee.
The mid- to long-term investment strategy will focus on improving the stability of research and development (R&D) investment, while also discussing ways to address both key fields where technological sovereignty must be secured, such as AI and energy, and growth areas through the advancement of the research ecosystem. Foundational strength areas such as basic research and talent, as well as measures to generate and spread R&D outcomes, will also be key agenda items.
The general committee will consist of 17 industry-academia-research experts, chaired by Na Kyung-hwan, a distinguished professor at Dankook University, and will operate in a format in which five members of the basic plan's general committee concurrently serve to strengthen the linkage between policy and investment.
Cho Seon-hak, Director General for Science and Technology Policy at the Ministry of Science and ICT, said that the schedule was set up so that the drafts of the basic plan for science and technology and the mid- to long-term investment strategy can be reflected in next year's budget, adding, "We will hold a public hearing in April, gather opinions from ministries, and complete establishment and announcement within the first half of the year."
Vice Prime Minister and Minister of the Ministry of Science and ICT Bae Kyung-hoon said, "At a time when uncertainty in the external environment surrounding the Republic of Korea is growing and, internally, a complex crisis is deepening, including weakening growth engines and worsening polarization, the new basic plan for science and technology and the mid- to long-term national research and development investment strategy will be a process of drawing the future of the Republic of Korea beyond the development of science and technology," adding, "We ask members of the establishment committee to gather your wisdom, experience, and insights and make bold proposals that go beyond existing frameworks."