Postdoc Research Funding of 100 Million KRW per Person... Kiwoori Selected 4 Universities

Selected from Seoul, Sungkyunkwan, Yonsei, and Pohang University of Science and Technology

[Asia Economy Reporter Junho Hwang] Seoul National University, Sungkyunkwan University, Yonsei University, and Pohang University of Science and Technology have been selected for the government's advanced talent development project to support the industrial entry of postdoctoral researchers in science and engineering fields. Through this project, the government will provide research funding of approximately 100 million KRW per researcher annually for three years, and partner companies in each project will have opportunities to recruit outstanding talents.

The Ministry of Science and ICT announced on the 30th that four universities have been selected for the advanced research talent growth support project "KIURI".

KIURI is a project that forms an industry-academia cooperation platform centered on non-tenure researchers (postdocs) holding doctoral degrees, such as postdoctoral researchers and research professors. The government will provide research funding worth 2 billion KRW annually to the four selected universities for three years. Participating non-tenure researchers will receive research funding of approximately 100 million KRW per year for up to three years. Companies wishing to exchange and cooperate with the research groups will match basic membership fees and joint research funds, gaining opportunities for joint research and recruitment of excellent personnel.

Seoul National University was selected for this project by forming the "K-BIO New Growth Engine KIURI Talent Development Research Group" and planning to nurture talents in AI-based healthcare, precision medicine, and translational medicine fields. Fifteen companies, including Hanmi Pharmaceutical, GC Green Cross, and Theragen Etex Co., Ltd., participate as partner companies.

Sungkyunkwan University formed the "Energy-Environment-Bio Convergence Advanced Talent Development Research Group" and nurtures advanced research talents in energy, environment, bio, and pharmaceutical fields such as fuel, secondary batteries, photocatalysts, and biomarkers. Partner companies include Kyungdong Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Cosmax Co., Ltd., and Noroo Chemical, totaling 30 companies.

Yonsei University formed the "Extreme Material - Ultra-High Value-Added Parts KIURI Research Group" and is fostering emerging researchers with global competitiveness in core materials and parts for future automobiles, including vehicle structure and control, functional materials, and energy materials. Twelve companies, including Hyundai Motor Company, Dongkuk Steel, and LMS Co., Ltd., participate as partner companies.

Pohang University of Science and Technology formed the "Bio Molecular Clamping Technology Research Group" and nurtures world-class bio leader researchers in fields such as therapeutics and diagnostic systems utilizing bio molecular clamping technology. Twenty-seven companies, including POSCO, Hanmi Science, and Genexine, participate in this project.

The selected universities will complete recruitment of participating postdocs and formation of research groups by the end of August and begin the project in earnest. The government also plans to conduct a preliminary feasibility study to expand the scale of this project in the future.

Kang Sangwook, Director of the Future Talent Policy Bureau, said, "The KIURI project will provide postdocs with unstable status stable research opportunities and time to explore career paths for three years, especially in a situation where job conditions are expected to worsen due to COVID-19," and added, "We expect that the outstanding talents produced through this project will greatly contribute to Korea's leap as a bio powerhouse and the independence of materials and parts technology."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.