{
  "id": 7488901,
  "title": "Science ministry seeks nearly $2.2 bil. in ICT research budget next year",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/science-ministry-seeks-nearly-2-2-bil-in-ict-research-budget-next-year-7488901",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-09-15T06:32:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times-koreatimes",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/20260915/science-ministry-seeks-nearly-22-bil-in-ict-research-budget-next-year"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Korea's science ministry announced plans to allocate nearly 3 trillion won, equivalent to $2.2 billion, towards research and development (R&D) of information and communications technologies (ICT) in the coming year. This investment represents a 23.6 percent increase compared to the 2026 budget, according to the Ministry of Science and ICT. The total proposed R&D budget for 2027 amounts to 39.5 trillion won. During an inaugural budget planning workshop in central Seoul, attended by officials from research labs, the private sector, and academia, the ministry decided to concentrate its investments in five key areas.\n\nThe ministry has set aside a total of 662.1 billion won for the government's three mega projects, which encompass the development of physical AI technologies, AI semiconductors, and data centers. Notably, 384.9 billion won has been allocated specifically for the latter category. The remaining funds will be distributed across the other four areas of focus: next-generation AI technologies, AI transformation, securing future technologies, and talent development.",
  "summary": "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…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yonhap News",
        "title": "Science ministry seeks nearly 3 tln won in ICT research budget next year",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/science-ministry-seeks-nearly-3-tln-won-in-ict-research-budget-next",
        "published": "2026-09-15T05:00:04.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Science ministry seeks nearly $2.2 bil. in ICT research budget next year",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/science-ministry-seeks-nearly-2-2-bil-in-ict-research-budget-next-year",
        "published": "2026-09-15T06:07:02.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}