The Ministry of Science and ICT said that at the Cabinet meeting on the 28th, a revision to the Enforcement Decree of the National Research and Development Innovation Act to boost autonomy in executing research funds was approved.
The revision focuses on easing the standards for using research funds so researchers can concentrate on research rather than administrative procedures. It is a follow-up to the research and development ecosystem innovation plan announced at the ministers' meeting on science and technology in Nov. last year.
The core of the amendment is the introduction of a new budget item, "research innovation expenses," within direct costs. Research innovation expenses allow more flexible use of frequently occurring costs in the research process—such as research material purchases, travel, and meeting expenses—without subdividing them into detailed line items. The usage limit is within 10% of the amount of direct costs excluding rigid expenses, up to a maximum of 50 million won.
The Ministry of Science and ICT also plans to reduce the burden of submitting supporting documents for research innovation expenses. However, because system maintenance and agreement changes are needed, the measure will first apply from Jun. to some projects that are ready, with full implementation planned for 2027. The requirement that external participants be mandatory when using meeting expenses as research innovation expenses will also be abolished.
The method of using indirect costs at nonprofit research institutions will also change. Previously, indirect costs could be executed only if permissible items were specified in the rules, but going forward, they may be used as research-related expenses unless they fall under prohibited items. As a result, newly arising research support expenses—such as fees for artificial intelligence (AI) services—can be executed as indirect costs without separate rule revisions. The shift to a negative list for institutions' indirect costs will take effect immediately upon promulgation.
Rules on meeting expenses, which had been a major inconvenience in the field, will also be eased. Going forward, prior approval will not be required when using meeting expenses for research-related purposes. The supporting documents required when Nonprofit Institutions (NPI) use research material expenses will also be simplified, centered on inspection confirmation forms.
Park In-gyu, head of the Science and Technology Innovation Center at the Ministry of Science and ICT, said, "The Ministry of Science and ICT is working to reduce administrative burdens and resolve inconveniences so researchers can focus solely on their research," and added, "As researchers' research capacity and technological prowess are becoming increasingly important, we will actively identify and improve unnecessary regulations, even minor ones that hinder researchers' immersion in their work, and, starting with this enhancement of autonomy over research funds, we plan to announce regulatory improvements in succession."