The Ministry of Science and ICT set next year's budget at a record 29.6476 trillion won. Of that, the research and development budget will rise to 14.1 trillion won, and about 12.4 trillion won will be invested to secure advanced technologies such as future energy, quantum, and advanced bio. Support will also be strengthened across the science and technology research ecosystem, including basic research, Government-funded research institute (출연연), and commercialization of research outcomes.
The Ministry of Science and ICT said on the 1st that its share of the 2027 government budget bill approved at a Cabinet meeting was set at 29.6476 trillion won, up 24.5% from this year's supplementary budget. The R&D budget will increase 18.5% from 11.9 trillion won this year to 14.1 trillion won next year, accounting for 36% of the government's total R&D budget.
In the science and technology sector, 12.377 trillion won will be invested to "secure NEXT artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced technologies," up 1.6845 trillion won from 10.6925 trillion won this year. Of that, the budget for the "seven SEED projects" to secure future growth engines will be expanded from 861.6 billion won to 1.3439 trillion won.
At a pre-briefing held on the 31st, First Vice Minister Gu Hyeok-chae said, "To solve the rapidly growing power problem due to AI, we will develop future clean energy such as small modular reactors (SMRs) and nuclear fusion at an early stage, and significantly expand investment in core technologies such as quantum, advanced bio, and space."
A new 160.1 billion won will be invested to develop core nuclear fusion technologies and build demonstration infrastructure, and 18 billion won will be allocated for commercialization technology development of innovative SMR (i-SMR). In future-pioneering technologies, the government will support development of a domestic quantum computer and quantum transformation (QX), AI- and robot-based autonomous drug discovery labs, brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), and low Earth orbit satellite communications technologies. Investment in advanced supply chain technologies such as nano and materials will also be expanded.
A total of 5.6408 trillion won will be invested in developing and commercializing national strategic technologies such as biotech, semiconductors, and nuclear power. The operation of Government-funded research institute will also be revised to strengthen research institutes' performance of national missions. The number of strategic research projects at Government-funded research institute will increase from 77 this year to 119 next year, and the share of government contributions in personnel expenses will rise from 60.3% to 70.2%. The plan is to expand that to 100% by 2030. For Government-funded research institute that receive an A grade or higher in institutional evaluations, a new performance bonus for all employees will be introduced, with 16.7 billion won allocated.
The government will also change how it supports R&D to connect research outcomes to actual businesses. In addition to the existing grant-based funding, it will introduce "investment-type R&D" for the first time, which allows equity acquisition and recovery and reinvestment of funds. A total of 89.3 billion won was allocated to three projects: 25 billion won for gene and cell therapies for rare and intractable diseases, 40 billion won for a compound semiconductor R&D co-prosperity fab, and 24.3 billion won for investment-type R&D based on public research outcomes.
Vice Minister Gu said, "Until now we have mostly conducted traditional grant-based R&D, but it has been difficult to apply rigid grant systems to fast-paced investment or commercialization," adding, "We want to try investment-type R&D first in areas where commercialization or technology diffusion is rapid." The ministry plans to pilot approaches such as special purpose companies (SPCs) and investment associations jointly funded by the public and private sectors, and then expand the system.
Meanwhile, the individual basic research budget will increase from 2.2657 trillion won this year to 2.4421 trillion won next year. The number of supported projects will be expanded from 15,300 to 18,000. In particular, the basic research budget will rise about 80% from 125.6 billion won to 226.1 billion won, and 30 billion won will be newly invested in long-term research projects to ensure stable research for regional researchers.
Support for science and technology talent will also increase. The number of recipients of science and engineering scholarships will expand from 2,920 this year to 5,140 next year, and the pool of national scientists will widen from 20 at the leader level this year to 40 leaders and 200 next-generation researchers next year. Related budgets, including the Presidential Science Scholarship, will also rise from 69.8 billion won to 89.9 billion won.
Vice Minister Gu added, "The 2027 budget plan of the Ministry of Science and ICT is not simply a spending plan but a strategic investment plan to create new growth opportunities and drive a leap forward toward an irreplaceable Korea," saying, "We will maintain the key policy goals during the National Assembly's review."