The Ministry of Science and ICT is launching a new review system to manage projects to build large research facilities and equipment after the abolition of preliminary feasibility studies for research and development (R&D).
The Ministry of Science and ICT said on the 11th that it completed legal and administrative preparations related to a full-cycle review system for "construction-type R&D projects," including the establishment of large research facilities and equipment, and will begin full implementation.
The new system is a follow-up measure to the abolition of R&D preliminary feasibility studies. The Ministry of Science and ICT prepared a basis to operate pre-check systems by R&D type through a February amendment to the Framework Act on Science and Technology. It first implemented follow-up measures for research-type R&D, and for construction-type R&D, it established the operational foundation this time after additional steps, including revising the enforcement decree and preparing detailed guidelines.
The core of the new review system is to move away from the previous economy-focused preliminary review and instead examine the entire process, divided from the planning stage to completion. The targets are large construction-type R&D projects with total project costs of at least 100 billion won and at least 50 billion won in state funds.
Reviews will proceed by selectively applying required items according to the nature of the project and how it will be carried out. They include the "project implementation review," which examines the need for and validity of the project; the "design conformity review," which looks at the completeness of the design and technical risk factors; and the "major plan change review," which examines adjustments due to changes in project conditions. The aim is to manage technical and fiscal risks that can arise not only early on but also during the course of implementation.
To run the system, the Ministry of Science and ICT also formed a review committee for construction-type R&D projects. The Chairperson will be the head of the Science and Technology Innovation Center, and civilian members will be composed of experts related to construction-type R&D. The committee will deliberate and decide on key matters in construction-type R&D reviews.
It also secured about 240 expert personnel from academia and industry for specialized reviews of individual projects. The Ministry of Science and ICT plans to form specialized review panels from among them, taking into account each project's technology field, scale, and characteristics, and to conduct stage-by-stage reviews.
Going forward, the Ministry of Science and ICT will accept review requests for new large construction-type R&D projects pursued by each ministry and operate the system. It expects that once the new review framework takes hold, it will help reduce uncertainties during the implementation of large research infrastructure projects and provide the facilities and equipment needed in the field in a timely manner.
Park In-gyu, head of the Science and Technology Innovation Center, said, "Now that we have completed legal refinements and established the review framework, we will operate the new system stably," and added, "We will work to ensure that the infrastructure needed in the research field can be built in a timely manner."