The KIST Future Foundation and the Sohwa Scholarship Foundation provided a total of 50 million won in research encouragement grants to five postdoctoral researchers at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST).
The two foundations said they held the "2026 Sohwa-KIST early-career researcher scholarship award ceremony" on the 10th at the KIST Director General for International Cooperation in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, and presented five postdoctoral researchers with 10 million won each in research encouragement grants and scholarship certificates.
This scholarship program was prepared under a business agreement the two foundations signed on Apr. in. The Sohwa Scholarship Foundation contributes 50 million won annually, and, together with the KIST Future Foundation, selects and supports early-career researchers affiliated with KIST.
This year, five postdoctoral researchers at KIST were selected based on their research achievements and future research plans. Because the postdoctoral period is an initial stage for establishing oneself as an independent researcher, the two foundations enabled the scholarship funds to be used to support research activities.
Sohwa Scholarship Foundation Chair Park Yeong-ok said, "I hope this helps young researchers continue creative and challenging research."
KIST Future Foundation Chair Kim Yong-jik said, "The postdoctoral period is an important stage in growing into an independent researcher," adding, "We will continue to support early-career researchers so they can focus on their work."
The KIST Future Foundation launched in 2022 based on a fund created by KIST employees' 1% salary donations in 2012. It carries out programs to foster science and technology talent and scholarship projects for youth.