Science and Technology Chief: "Not Afraid of Massive Increase in R&D Budget"

Presidential Office Science and Technology Chief Park Sang-wook Visits Ministry of Science and ICT Press Room
Confirms Plan for Significant Increase in R&D Budget
Promotes Convergent Research Instead of Merging Research Institutes

"We are not afraid of a tremendous increase in the Research and Development (R&D) budget."

Sangwook Park, Chief of Science and Technology at the Presidential Office, is speaking at the Ministry of Science and ICT press room on the 6th. Photo by Jongmin Baek

On the 6th, Park Sang-wook, Chief of Science and Technology at the Presidential Office, visited the Ministry of Science and ICT press room and confirmed the government's position to push for a significant increase in this year's R&D budget. He also stated that there will be no artificial restructuring of government-funded research institutes.

When asked whether a substantial increase in the R&D budget is possible, Chief Park replied, "We are not afraid of an enormous scale of increase." He indicated that the Ministry of Science and ICT’s Science Innovation Bureau, which is in charge of the R&D budget, is well-prepared, and that the large-scale increase in the R&D budget promised by President Yoon Seok-yeol will be realized.

Chief Park also said, "We are preparing a large framework that includes both existing projects and future-oriented R&D in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) semiconductors," while emphasizing, "Although strategic R&D may lead in the innovation process such as pioneering R&D, fields essential for maintaining the scientific ecosystem, such as basic research, will not be neglected."

Regarding the possibility of consolidation of government-funded research institutes, he drew a clear line. Chief Park stated, "While maintaining the historical tradition and independence of (government-funded) research institutes, we will improve unnecessary physical barriers as well as cultural and institutional barriers to enable practical convergence and collaborative research."

Chief Park specifically mentioned, "The National Technology Center (NTC) is undergoing improvements in a much softer form to avoid misunderstandings in the field." The NTC was promoted to integrate and manage research projects of government-funded institutes related to the 12 major national strategic technologies, but due to growing dissatisfaction in the research field such as R&D budget cuts, it is expected to be significantly eased.

Regarding the establishment of the Science and Technology Medical School necessary for fostering the bio-industry, Chief Park said, "It can be pursued once the issue of increasing medical school admissions is resolved."

Chief Park also emphasized active communication on this day. Efforts to strengthen communication with the research field after the launch of the Presidential Office’s science and technology chief system and the replacement of the 1st and 2nd vice ministers of the Ministry of Science and ICT and the head of the Science Innovation Bureau are being observed in various places.

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