Public Research Institute to Dispatch 'Sobu-Jang Dual Role Committee Member'

Minister of Science and ICT Choi Ki-young attended the full meeting of the National Assembly's Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee on the 7th and received a report from an official before the meeting began. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Junho Hwang] To strengthen the competitiveness of materials, parts, and equipment (SoBuJang), a concurrent position system will be introduced in public research institutes (PRIs) where personnel conduct both research and corporate support. Public research institutes' non-stop equipment will also be transferred to companies free of charge, and the government will establish a new R&D project based on collaboration between public research institutes and companies, implementing customized SoBuJang measures for businesses. On the 13th, the Ministry of Science and ICT finalized the "Plan to Strengthen Support for SoBuJang Companies through Public Research Institutes" at the 4th SoBuJang Competitiveness Enhancement Committee meeting.

This plan was prepared by the Convergence Innovation Support Group, launched last month, to promote voluntary cooperation between public research institutes and companies. The government has enabled domestic SoBuJang companies to utilize the technology, personnel, and equipment of public research institutes throughout the entire product development cycle, from technology development and demonstration testing to mass production. A total of 32 public research institutes participating in the support group have secured 11,000 research personnel and 26,000 research equipment units.

Specifically, an environment will be created to actively involve research personnel in corporate support. The government will introduce a concurrent position system allowing research personnel to conduct both research and corporate support. Concurrent employment such as working two days a week at their original research institute and three days a week at a company will also be permitted. Guidelines for dispatch will be established, including providing incentives to outstanding researchers involved in corporate support, offering special considerations during performance evaluations and promotion reviews, and extending retirement age. Measures to favor outstanding corporate support institutions in funding calculations and institutional evaluations will also be pursued.

Additionally, the government will establish new R&D projects premised on the dispatch of personnel from public research institutes. This is a measure to reduce companies' labor cost burdens. If a researcher transfers to the company after completing their dispatch, the government will support 50% (previously 40%) of the labor costs for three years. When technology commercialization is achieved through R&D conducted by public research institutes themselves, the upfront technology fee payable before sales occurs will be reduced to about 10% of the invested research funds.

Jung Byung-seon, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Science and ICT, stated, "We will actively promote financial support and institutional improvements so that public research institutes can play a leading role in strengthening the competitiveness of the SoBuJang industry."

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