The Korea Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI, President Bang Seung-chan) announced its 2026 research and management plans to mark the New Year of Byeong-o, expressing its determination to leap forward as a national mission-oriented research institution starting from its 50th anniversary.

ETRI held a New Year's kick-off ceremony on the 2nd and presented a new direction for the next 50 years as a research institution leading the solution of national challenges in the era of the great transformation of AI and ICT.

In his New Year’s address, President Bang Seung-chan emphasized, “Over the past half-century, ETRI has laid the foundation for the development of the national economy and industry through the development of core source technologies for South Korea’s ICT,” adding, “2026, marking the 50th anniversary of our founding, is a critical turning point for preparing for the next 50 years.”

In particular, citing the fact that nine projects were selected for the Top 100 National R&D Achievements last year, continuing the record for the most for a single institution for seven consecutive years, and that the institution received an 'Excellent' rating in both the research project evaluation and the institutional operation evaluation, he assessed that “this is the result of the dedication of all members.”

ETRI presented the following as key management priorities for this year: strengthening national mission-oriented R&D following the phased abolition of the Project-Based System (PBS); maximizing the social and industrial utilization of research results; and strengthening regional linkages and expanding public consensus.

In particular, the Post-PBS system The plan is to establish itself as a research institution leading the fulfillment of national missions by building a strategic research planning and highly immersive research execution system through this transformation.

In addition, to enhance the industrial utilization of R&D results, we will strengthen the 'complete R&D' strategy by proactively securing core source technologies and component technologies and linking them to system technologies.

We will establish an integrated strategic framework extending from research planning to the utilization of results, and also pursue increased investment for the dissemination of outcomes and the advancement of the system for measuring and managing industrial ripple effects.

Strengthening ties with the local community was also presented as a major task.

ETRI plans to support regional organizations in performing roles tailored to the characteristics and needs of each region, and lead the expansion of region-based AI-integrated digital transformation (ADX).

On the first floor of the 'Majungmul Plaza,' a startup base scheduled for completion at the end of this year, a 'Korea ICT Promotion Hall' will be established and operated as an open communication space where the public can directly experience ICT research results.

Along with its New Year's address, ETRI selected and announced nine technologies as 'ETRI's Representative Achievements for 2025'.

The Grand Prize was awarded to 'Securing world-class core source technologies for 6G communication and demonstrating the world's first integrated wired and wireless service,' led by Kim Il-gyu, Head of the Mobile Communication Research Division. The research team aims to implement a safe and smart hyper-connected infrastructure through this technology.

Two technologies were selected for the Grand Prize: △development and standardization of core technologies for 2.5th generation broadcasting and △development of an AI solution for early screening of autism spectrum disorder in infants and children.

In addition, six technologies received excellence awards, including ultra-small optical integrated chips for quantum cryptography communication, high-performance all-solid-state secondary battery technology, localization of core source technology for satellite payloads, autonomous flight drone systems for searching for missing persons, intelligent robot commercialization technology, and standard platform technology for factory energy management.

President Bang Seung-chan stated, “2026 is a meaningful year marking the 50th anniversary of ETRI’s founding,” adding, “We will continue to strive to lead national strategic technologies and create research results that the public and industry can experience.”