As a follow-up to abolishing the project-based system (PBS), the government will, starting next year, pay personnel costs at Government-funded research institute as institution operating expenses, separate from projects. The move reflects criticism that, even after abolishing PBS, a structure remains in which personnel costs still have to be secured through winning projects.
The Ministry of Science and ICT said it convened the 10th meeting of ministers related to science and technology in writing and reviewed and approved the "status check of PBS abolition and plan to further advance future implementation."
PBS is a system in which researchers at government-funded research institutes secure personnel and research funds by winning external projects. The government declared the abolition of PBS last year and reorganized existing commissioned projects into strategic research programs, but this year's budget still included personnel costs in the strategic research program projects. Because of this, concerns have been raised that, even after abolishing the system, the structure could persist in which researchers must scramble to win projects to secure personnel costs.
Accordingly, starting next year the government will unify personnel costs included in strategic research programs into personnel costs within institution operating expenses. The aim is to establish a structure that stably pays personnel costs regardless of whether a project is carried out.
The way government-commissioned projects are run will also be adjusted. When existing commissioned projects end, they will be converted into strategic research programs, and new government commissions will, in principle, be restricted. However, in cases where participation by government-funded research institutes is absolutely necessary, the government plans to prepare relevant standards and guidelines within this year to exceptionally allow commissioned projects.
The research direction of government-funded research institutes will also be overhauled to focus on each institution's mission. The government will establish the national missions that government-funded research institutes must carry out and, based on that, will require each institution to draw up a five-year research and development (R&D) portfolio.
The planning and management system for strategic research programs will also be supplemented. Before launching programs, sufficient planning time will be secured, and a full-cycle management system from planning through execution and evaluation will be put in place. To entrench the system after abolishing PBS, a full revision of the Act on government-funded research institutes will also be pursued. The role of the National Research Council of Science & Technology (NST) will be redefined, and measures to ensure accountability in line with expanded autonomy for government-funded research institutes will be reviewed together.
Meanwhile, at the meeting of ministers related to science and technology that day, an "investment-type R&D implementation plan," which links the government's support for corporations' R&D from an input-centered approach to performance sharing and reinvestment, was also discussed behind closed doors. A "plan to establish research security that protects technological sovereignty and promotes international cooperation," prepared jointly by the relevant ministries, was also reviewed and approved as a confidential agenda item.