Jeollanam-do Secures New R&D Budget for Next Year...Up 43.2%

Laying the Foundation for Strengthening Competitiveness in Future Industries
such as Bio and Carbon Neutrality

Jeonnam Provincial Government Building Exterior View

Jeollanam-do announced that it has secured 23.5 billion won in new government research and development (R&D) funding for 2026, marking a 43.2% increase compared to this year’s 16.4 billion won. In terms of total project cost, this amounts to 204.5 billion won (with 168.9 billion won from national funding).

With this budget secured, Jeollanam-do has laid the foundation to accelerate research and development for future growth engines such as bio, secondary batteries, and carbon neutrality, as well as to strengthen the competitiveness of the petrochemical industry.

By sector, in the bio field, the province has established the groundwork to launch full-scale research on the development of next-generation convergent immunotherapy source technology (4 billion won). At the Hwasun Bio Specialized Complex, efforts to develop future-oriented immune anticancer drugs to counter cancer cell resistance are expected to further enhance the global competitiveness of Jeollanam-do’s bio industry.

In the secondary battery sector, the budget includes 2 billion won for the development of a marine battery specialized data hub platform. This project, proposed by Jeollanam-do to the Ministry of Science and ICT and selected as a linked project for the 2026 government budget, is expected to drive the activation of the marine battery industry by establishing a marine battery data hub.

In the petrochemical sector, the budget includes 4 billion won for the development and demonstration of CO2 pre-treatment, liquefaction, and bunkering hub technology applicable to multiple emission sources; 5.5 billion won for the development and demonstration of onboard CO2 capture technology; and 5.5 billion won for the development of manufacturing technology for polymer copolymers for future mobility. These projects are expected to accelerate the acquisition of core carbon capture technologies and the transition of the petrochemical industry to a high value-added sector.

Kim Kihong, Director General of Strategic Industries at Jeollanam-do, stated, "Research and development is the most reliable investment to lay the foundation for super-innovative growth and the K-Premium pursued by the people-sovereign government," adding, "We will continue to expand R&D projects by strengthening collaboration with innovation stakeholders such as universities and research institutes, and by maintaining close communication with central government ministries."

The new government R&D budget plan dramatically increases investment in AI and advanced research and development, rising from 29.6 trillion won in 2025 to a record-high 35.3 trillion won in 2026, an increase of 19.3%. In line with this government investment trend, Jeollanam-do plans to continuously foster and expand R&D projects that will lead future industries such as AI, energy, and bio.

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