Last Year, National Research Project Funding per Researcher Was 360 Million KRW... Decrease Observed Among Women

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Hye-seon] Last year, the total expenditure on national research and development projects increased, resulting in a rise in research funding per principal investigator. Although the number of female principal investigators also increased, their research funding per person decreased, falling below the average research funding, according to a recent survey.

According to the analysis of the national research and development project expenditure status by the Korea Institute of Science and Technology Planning and Evaluation on the 19th, the total expenditure on national research and development projects last year was KRW 26.5791 trillion (1,181 projects and 74,745 detailed tasks), marking an 11.3% increase compared to the previous year.

The average research funding per task was KRW 360 million, a 9.4% increase from the previous year. By funding range, the largest proportion was for projects with funding between KRW 50 million and less than KRW 100 million (24.7%, 18,483 cases), followed by those between KRW 100 million and less than KRW 200 million (20.6%, 15,429 cases), and those under KRW 30 million (14.1%, 10,533 cases). Compared to the previous year, the proportion of detailed tasks with funding over KRW 200 million increased, while those under KRW 50 million decreased.

The total number of principal investigators was 49,025, with an average annual increase of 4.9% over the past five years. Among them, the proportion of male and female principal investigators was 82.3% and 17.7%, respectively. The proportion of female principal investigators rose from 16.1% in 2017 to 17.7% last year, reflecting the ongoing promotion of policies to foster and support female scientists and engineers. However, the research funding per female principal investigator actually decreased.

The research funding per principal investigator increased by 8.2% (KRW 33 million) from the previous year to KRW 430 million. While the total expenditure on detailed tasks in the science and technology field increased by 13.8%, the number of principal investigators increased by 4.5%, leading to an increase in research funding per principal investigator, according to the institute’s analysis. By gender, research funding per principal investigator was KRW 476 million for males and KRW 217 million for females. Compared to the previous year, funding for males increased by KRW 42 million, whereas it decreased by KRW 8 million for females. The average age of principal investigators was 47.7 years, with males averaging 48.6 years and females 43.5 years. By age group, those aged 41 to 50 accounted for about 38.6% of the total.

By research performing entity, government-funded research institutes accounted for KRW 9.6058 trillion, representing 36.1% of the total. This was followed by universities (KRW 6.3317 trillion, 23.8%) and small and medium-sized enterprises (KRW 4.9721 trillion, 18.7%). However, the shares of government-funded institutes, universities, and large corporations decreased, while that of small and medium-sized enterprises increased.

The expenditure scale by research field according to the national science and technology standard classification was led by mechanical engineering (17.4%), information and communication (11.2%), electrical and electronics (10.1%), and health and medical care (9.6%). By priority science and technology fields, life sciences and health care accounted for KRW 2.888 trillion, or 18.2% of the total. Information and communication technology (ICT) and software (SW) received KRW 2.8411 trillion (17.9%), and energy and resources received KRW 2.0856 trillion (13.2%).

By application field according to the national science and technology standard classification, expenditures in the public sector and industrial sector were KRW 17.2894 trillion (65.0%) and KRW 9.2896 trillion (35.0%), respectively. In the public sector, research related to national defense (KRW 4.1229 trillion) was active. Since 2019, the share of expenditures in the industrial sector has steadily increased. The top industries included agriculture, forestry, and fisheries (KRW 1.2354 trillion, 13.3%), manufacturing of electronic components, computers, video, audio, and communication equipment (KRW 1.1774 trillion, 12.7%), and manufacturing of electrical and machinery equipment (KRW 1.0305 trillion, 11.1%).

By region, among the 17 metropolitan autonomous districts, the top three regions by expenditure share were Daejeon Metropolitan City (KRW 6.8208 trillion, 28.2%), Seoul Special City (KRW 4.8767 trillion, 20.1%), and Gyeonggi Province (KRW 2.8082 trillion, 11.6%). Excluding the Seoul metropolitan area (Seoul, Gyeonggi, Incheon) and Daejeon, Gyeongsangnam-do had the highest expenditure at KRW 1.9628 trillion (8.1%), followed by Busan (KRW 1.002 trillion, 4.1%) and Jeollabuk-do (KRW 929.6 billion, 3.8%).

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