Research Life Incentive and Full-Scale Launch of Korean-Style mRNA Vaccine Development

Total Project Budgets Finalized for R&D Projects Exempted from Preliminary Feasibility Studies
STEM Graduate Student Labor Cost Support and Pandemic Preparedness mRNA Vaccine Development Projects Confirmed

The total project budget for the 'STEM Graduate Student Labor Cost Support Project,' which provides a minimum monthly research living allowance of 800,000 KRW for master's students and 1,100,000 KRW for doctoral students in STEM fields, has been finalized at 979 billion KRW. Additionally, the 'Pandemic Preparedness mRNA Vaccine Development Support Project,' aimed at ensuring stable vaccine supply in the event of future pandemic disasters, has been allocated a total budget of 505.2 billion KRW.

On the 25th, the Ministry of Science and ICT held the '2025 2nd National R&D Project Evaluation General Committee' chaired by Ryu Gwang-jun, Director of the Science and Technology Innovation Headquarters, and finalized the results of the appropriateness review for two projects that were exempted from preliminary feasibility studies due to recognized necessity and urgency for national policy projects in 2024.

Ryu Gwang-jun, Director of the Science and Technology Innovation Bureau, Ministry of Science and ICT. Photo by Yonhap News

The Ministry of Science and ICT's 'STEM Graduate Student Labor Cost Support' project has been confirmed with a total budget of 979 billion KRW and a project period of nine years from this year through 2033. This R&D support system integrates and systematically manages all types of research living allowances, including student labor costs and research scholarships provided to STEM graduate students, to expand the economic safety net for student researchers and improve overall treatment levels.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's 'Pandemic Preparedness mRNA Vaccine Development Support Project' aims to develop an mRNA vaccine platform to ensure stable vaccine supply in the event of future pandemic disasters, supporting the process from preclinical stages to product approval. The appropriateness review confirmed a total budget of 505.2 billion KRW and a project period of four years from this year through 2028.

By securing a rapid mRNA vaccine development platform through this project, it is expected that in future pandemic crises, ultra-fast vaccine development within a maximum of 200 days will be possible, thereby protecting public health security by ensuring the rapid and stable supply of vaccines to safeguard citizens' lives.

Ryu Gwang-jun, Director of the Science and Technology Innovation Headquarters, stated, "By selecting projects with high national urgency last year and exempting them from preliminary feasibility studies, and completing the appropriateness review results today, we were able to advance project initiation by at least one year. We will continue efforts to secure flexibility and speed in R&D within the existing preliminary feasibility study framework and ultimately complete the system reform for leading R&D promotion, including the abolition of R&D preliminary feasibility studies, without delay."

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