The government is launching a large-scale medical device research and development (R&D) project, investing a total of 940.8 billion won over seven years. It is a pan-ministerial cooperation project that spans the entire cycle from basic and fundamental research to commercialization, clinical trials, and regulatory approval.
The Ministery of Food and Drug Safety said on the 12th that, jointly with the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources, and the Ministry of Health and Welfare, it will push forward the "pan-ministerial advanced medical device research and development project."
This project is a major national research and development (R&D) program that will invest a total of 940.8 billion won (838.3 billion won in state funds, 102.5 billion won in private funds) over seven years from 2026 to 2032, aiming to develop world-first and world-class global flagship medical devices and localize essential medical devices.
Through this project, the government plans to systematically support the full cycle of medical device R&D. From the stage of basic and fundamental technology research to commercialization, clinical trials, and regulatory approval, multiple ministries will jointly back the process so that research results lead to actual clinical settings and the market.
In the first year, 2026, 59.325 billion won in state funds will be invested to support a total of 106 new projects. The goals of the new projects were refined based on the planning results of the preliminary feasibility study for the national research and development program that passed in Aug. last year, reflecting global technology trends and on-site research needs.
First, in the global flagship medical device field aimed at securing world-first and world-class technologies, five projects will be selected. Projects targeting world-first technologies such as an autonomously steering flexible endoscope and an implantable brain–artificial intelligence (AI)–robot real-time linkage system are included, as well as projects aiming for world-class levels such as whole-body positron emission tomography (PET), digital polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and radiation cancer treatment devices. In this field alone, 13.425 billion won in government research and development funding will be provided in 2026.
In the medical device core technology and product development field, a total of 68 projects will focus on technologies with high commercialization potential and on localizing essential medical devices. Projects include product development such as a degenerative brain disease diagnostic system and a digital surgical assist robot cooperative system, and there will also be linked support to carry the outcomes of the existing "pan-ministerial full-cycle medical device research and development project" and excellent basic and fundamental R&D projects in medical devices through to commercialization. Basic and fundamental research in software medical devices and medical robots, as well as localization projects for essential medical devices such as neonatal and pediatric ventilators, will also proceed. In this field, 35.55 billion won in government research and development funding will be invested in 2026.
In the field of strengthening market-entry capabilities for clinical settings, a total of 33 projects will support domestic and overseas clinical trials and regulatory responses. Alongside support for domestic and overseas clinical trials, the program will help research outcomes take root in actual clinical settings through tailored regulatory science evaluation technologies and responses to international standards. Government support for this field in 2026 will total 10.35 billion won.
To improve researchers' understanding and encourage active participation, on Feb. 13 the government will hold a briefing session on new projects for the "2026 pan-ministerial advanced medical device research and development project."
A government official said, "We plan to concentrate support on developing advanced medical devices based on close pan-ministerial cooperation and continued communication with the research field," adding, "We will strengthen competitiveness in the global medical device market and foster the medical device industry as a new national growth engine."