Ministry of Science and ICT's Budget for Next Year 18.9 Trillion Won... 5.5% Increase YoY

Budget Amount 16.9297 Trillion KRW... 7.8% Increase YoY
Funds Reduced by 11.3% to 1.9668 Trillion KRW
Total R&D Scale Up 11%... Record High Support for Basic Research

The Ministry of Science and ICT announced on the 10th that the 2025 budget has been finalized at 18.8967 trillion won through the National Assembly plenary session resolution.

The budget amount is 16.92978 trillion won, an increase of 7.8% from last year's 15.699185 trillion won, while funds amount to 1.96687 trillion won, a decrease of 11.3% compared to the previous year (2.21824 trillion won).

The Ministry of Science and ICT plans to focus investment in four major areas for next year's budget: ▲leading-edge research and development (R&D) support ▲artificial intelligence (AI) and digital innovation ▲core talent cultivation and expansion of basic research ▲strengthening strategic international cooperation.

Regarding leading-edge R&D support, a total of 4.3 trillion won will be invested in three major game changers: AI-semiconductors, advanced bio, quantum, as well as innovative and challenging R&D, national strategic technologies, and government-funded research institutes (GFRIs).

For AI and digital innovation, 870 billion won will be invested in expanding AI computing infrastructure, spreading AI and digital technologies, and realizing a warm and safe AI and digital world.

To cultivate core talent and expand basic research, 3.56 billion won will be supported for creating a stable research environment, including the establishment of research living allowances for science and engineering graduate students, and expanding basic research.

Regarding strengthening strategic international cooperation, 1.25 trillion won will be invested in expanding international joint research, participating in multilateral research programs such as Horizon Europe, and supporting scientist exchanges on the occasion of APEC.

The total government R&D budget scale is 29.6 trillion won, an increase of 11.5% compared to the previous year. The government will focus investment on △driving national innovation △building a leading research ecosystem △super-gap advanced technologies △public and defense sectors.

Regarding driving national innovation, 3.5 trillion won will be intensively invested aiming for the three major game changer technologies to become one of the top three powers by 2030. One trillion won will be invested in innovative and challenging R&D.

To build a leading research ecosystem, a record-high 2.9 trillion won will be supported for basic research. Additionally, 1 trillion won will be invested in talent cultivation, and 2.2 trillion won in global R&D including participation in Horizon Europe.

For super-gap advanced technologies, 2.4 trillion won will be invested to secure super-gap technologies in Korea-led industries such as semiconductors, displays, secondary batteries, and next-generation communications. One trillion four hundred billion won will be supported for corporate R&D including technology scale-up and deep tech commercialization.

Regarding public and defense sectors, 2.2 trillion won will be invested in responding to carbon neutrality, and 2.1 trillion won will be supported for disaster and safety R&D to respond to digital crimes and major accidents. Five trillion won will be invested in enhancing defense technology competitiveness and advanced defense power through civilian-military advanced technology cooperation.

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