The Ministry of Science and ICT (led by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT Bae Kyung-hoon) held a roundtable on September 18 in the large conference room on the 13th floor of the KT West Building in Gwanghwamun to discuss ways to improve the national research and development (R&D) system, with directors of university industry-academic cooperation foundations from across the country in attendance. The gathering was arranged to directly explain the 「2026 National R&D Administrative System Improvement Plan」 — approved at the deliberation meeting of the Presidential Advisory Council on Science and Technology on August 26 — to those on the research front lines, and to gather opinions to reflect in the detailed implementation measures.
 [코리안투데이] Roundtable on national R&D system reform between the Ministry of Science and ICT and university industry-academic cooperation foundation directors © 장형임 기자 |
The roundtable was chaired by Park In-kyu, head of the Science and Technology Innovation Office, and was attended by officials from a total of 14 institutions, including executive members of the National Council of University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation Directors and Research Deans (19 universities) and officials from the four science and technology institutes. Directors of industry-academic cooperation foundations from council-affiliated universities such as Korea University, Jeonbuk National University, Konkuk University and Inha University, as well as from the four science and technology institutes including the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), took part.
At the meeting, the ministry announced the key contents of the administrative system improvement plan, which is scheduled to take full effect from 2027 following the revision of relevant regulations within this year. The plan centers on promoting bold, challenging research through a fundamental shift in the perception framework for project evaluation, strengthening the autonomy and accountability of research funding execution, enhancing the efficiency of research administration, and systematizing the management of international joint research.
Presentations and question-and-answer sessions by the responsible departments then followed on four themes: ▲detailed measures to reform the project evaluation system ▲improvement of research allowance distribution standards ▲unification of R&D expense settlement standards and ▲measures to strengthen the research security framework.
Through open discussion, participants offered a range of views on the difficulties they experience on the ground and on the direction of system reform. Concrete discussions were held on project evaluation methods aimed at encouraging researchers to take on challenges, and participants also welcomed the improvements to problems long cited as major sources of the research administration burden — such as research expense recognition standards that varied from case to case and excessive supporting documentation.
In particular, the ministry explained that while there may be some misunderstanding that the reform of the research allowance system would reduce researcher compensation, the total amount of research allowances paid will not decrease. It added that, by resolving the problem of allowances being concentrated on specific researchers, the amount paid to postdoctoral researchers and non-tenured faculty participating in the same project is expected to increase. As this is directly linked to the treatment of junior and non-tenured research personnel on the research front lines, it is expected to have a tangible impact on members of universities and research institutions.
Park In-kyu, head of the Science and Technology Innovation Office, said, ‘The purpose of this roundtable is to actively communicate the efforts the government has been making to create an autonomous and accountable research environment, and to hear constructive advice from the field.’ He added, ‘We will faithfully reflect the valuable input given today in the process of drawing up the detailed measures, and will continue to communicate with universities and other major research sites to complete the system reform.’
The improvement plan is scheduled to take effect from 2027 following regulatory revisions, and the key question going forward will be how much the administrative burden on universities and research institutions is actually reduced as it is applied in the field. Inquiries can be directed to the Research System Innovation Division (044-202-6950).
지역 홍보대사 신청 기자양성과정 신청 코리안투데이 지부장 신청 코리안투데이 인천강화코리안브랜드대상 신청 최고경영인대상 신청 소비자만족도대상 신청
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