If research funds are misused or serious research misconduct is committed during national research and development (R&D), the maximum period of restriction on participation in national R&D will be extended to 20 years. Meanwhile, even if targets are not met, projects that produced meaningful outcomes during the research process will see expanded opportunities for follow-up research.
The Ministry of Science and ICT said the promulgation plan for the partial amendment to the National Research and Development Innovation Act, which passed the National Assembly's plenary session last month, was approved at a Cabinet meeting on the 8th. The revised law is scheduled to take effect in Mar. 2027, six months after promulgation.
The amendment raises the level of sanctions for research misconduct. The cap on restrictions on participation in national R&D will increase from the current 10 years to 20 years, and the ceiling for additional monetary sanctions will be raised from five times to 30 times the government-supported research and development costs.
The main targets are serious fraudulent acts such as embezzling student labor costs or privately diverting research funds. However, the highest level of sanctions will not apply to every violation, and the severity of the disposition will be determined by considering intent, the number of violations, and the seriousness of the matter. A legal basis has also been established for central administrative agencies to file complaints with investigative authorities or request investigations into research misconduct suspected of being criminal.
At the project selection stage, the innovativeness of the research objectives will be reflected as a key evaluation factor, and at the interim and final evaluations, qualitative assessment will be strengthened by focusing on the excellence of outcomes and the challenge in the research process rather than grade-based evaluations centered on deliverables.
In particular, even if objectives are not achieved, projects that produced academically or technologically meaningful knowledge through trial and error—"excellent challenge projects"—will be eligible for support for follow-up research. For excellent projects, follow-up research may be assigned to a principal investigator or research institution without a separate call.
Sanctions based solely on the fact that research results fell short of expectations will also be reduced. Going forward, sanctions will focus on cases where there are serious problems in the research process, such as violations of laws, failure to fulfill contractual obligations, or research misconduct.
The Ministry of Science and ICT plans to revise subordinate regulations, including enforcement decrees, before the law takes effect.
Park In-gyu, head of the Science and Technology Innovation Center, said, "While strengthening accountability for serious research misconduct, we will refine the system to expand follow-up support for diligent challenges and excellent research."