Science ministry seeks nearly $2.2 bil. in ICT research budget next year
Korea's science ministry said Tuesday it plans to invest nearly 3 trillion won ($2.2 billion) in the research and development (R&D) of information and communications technologies (ICT) next year as part of an ongoing effort to secure leadership in the global artificial intelligence (AI) race. The amount is a 23.6 percent hike compared with 2026, according to the Ministry of Science and ICT. It…
The Korea Science Ministry announced plans to allocate nearly 3 trillion won, equivalent to $2.2 billion, towards research and development (R&D) in information and communications technologies (ICT) for the upcoming year. This investment represents a 23.6 percent increase compared to 2026, as stated by the Ministry of Science and ICT, and will be part of their 2027 R&D budget proposal totaling 39.5 trillion won.
The decision was made after a budget planning workshop with officials from research labs, the private sector, and academia in central Seoul. The ministry aims to focus investments in five key areas, including the government's three flagship mega projects, next-generation AI technologies, AI transformation, securing future technologies, and talent development.
For the mega projects, a total of 662.1 billion won will be allocated, focusing on the R&D of physical AI technologies, AI semiconductors, and data centers. Specifically, 384.9 billion won will be dedicated to these three areas.
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