The government has finalized its support budget for basic science research and ICT technology development to create an R&D ecosystem centered on field research and to promote artificial intelligence transformation.

The Ministry of Science and ICT announced on the 2nd that it has finalized the '2025 Ministry of Science and ICT Research and Development Comprehensive Implementation Plan' with a total investment of KRW 6.3214 trillion and will push forward with full-scale projects.

This comprehensive implementation plan targets a research and development budget of KRW 5.058 trillion in the science and technology field and KRW 1.3156 trillion in the information, communications, and broadcasting (ICT) field, which is an increase of approximately 21.2% compared to the previous year.

The Ministry of Science and ICT has finalized the budget plan with the goal of creating a research and development ecosystem that works with the field and promoting the artificial intelligence transformation and laying the foundation for technology commercialization amid domestic and international situations such as increasing uncertainty in the global economy, increasing competition among major countries to secure leadership in core and emerging technologies, and increasing the ripple effect of technology commercialization.

Key investment areas include fostering three game-changing technologies in the fields of life sciences, artificial intelligence semiconductors, and quantum computing, as well as investing heavily in convergence research on promising future source technologies such as next-generation displays and personalized precision medicine.

In addition, we support the advancement of nano-material research and development and research and development of materials for extreme environments to secure an international key supply chain.

The government is promoting strategic basic research that links national and social demands to build a researcher-centered ecosystem, and is providing support of KRW 15 billion for new pioneering research, KRW 40 billion for strategic basic research, and KRW 10 billion for national research institutes, as well as KRW 40 billion for seed research by new researchers and KRW 30 billion for infrastructure construction based on new researchers. In addition, KRW 60 billion in research life incentives was provided to attract overseas talent and support their settlement.

In addition, we will focus on supporting cutting-edge technologies that reduce carbon emissions, such as carbon neutrality, climate change, and nuclear power. △We will promote medium and large-scale technology commercialization and human resource development, including △5.7 billion won for the development of core technologies for carbon-free energy, △4.2 billion won for the advancement of next-generation carbon capture technologies, and △2 billion won for the training of future international nuclear energy experts.

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) plans to focus investment on innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, quantum computing, and next-generation communications and cybersecurity to accelerate the transition to artificial intelligence.

The Ministry of Science and ICT is promoting the development of game-changing technologies such as ▲domestic AI semiconductor-based cloud technology ▲general-purpose AI exploration technology ▲AI safety research ▲quantum cryptography communication ▲quantum sensing industrialization, and supporting AI research infrastructure utilizing the cloud.

Accordingly, KRW 36.6 billion will be invested in Korean-style Internet-based cloud technology, KRW 6 billion in next-generation challenging artificial intelligence technology, KRW 7.9 billion in artificial intelligence safety technology, KRW 13.8 billion/new KRW 4.3 billion in quantum sensor commercialization technology, and KRW 9 billion in computing support for artificial intelligence research.

In addition, in order to secure digital-based innovative technologies such as next-generation 6G, low-orbit satellite communications, and cybersecurity, as well as original technologies for realistic content, new support will be provided in the form of KRW 10.3 billion for 6G industrial technologies, KRW 20.3 billion for low-orbit satellite communications, KRW 7.6 billion for core original technologies for information protection, and KRW 7 billion for realistic content technologies.

In addition, many support measures were included to foster talent and provide master's and doctoral programs for industry-academia cooperation and high-level talent cultivation, such as △6 billion won for AI Star Fellowship support, △20 billion won for AI graduate schools, and △13.5 billion won for AI convergence graduate schools.

The Ministry of Science and ICT has announced the schedule for new projects and tasks based on the comprehensive implementation plan finalized this time, and plans to explain specific details, task solicitation period, procedures, etc. through the joint government research and development project briefing session to be held at the end of January.