| Promoting training for 80 master's and doctoral students at 12 research institutions
After conducting industrial R&D at a government-funded research institute
Job placement support at top companies, training allowances also provided

The Ministry of Science and ICT is seeking ways to strengthen R&D capabilities in materials, parts, and equipment while helping unemployed master's and doctoral graduates find employment.

The Ministry of Science and ICT and the Korea Industrial Technology Association announced that they will recruit 80 master's and doctoral trainees starting from the 27th to participate in the 2019 supplementary budget 'Science and Engineering Professional Technical Training (Master's and Doctoral) Project'.

Through this project, unemployed young researchers are expected to grow into industrial R&D personnel who will contribute to the localization of materials, parts, and equipment in the future by receiving training at research institutions such as the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, the National Nanotechnology Center, the Korea Institute of Nanotechnology, the Korea Institute of Materials Science, and the Korea Institute of Science and Technology.

This project is a talent development initiative that supports unemployed master's and doctoral graduates in science and engineering by enabling them to gain practical R&D experience at industrial sites through the execution of industry-related projects at government-funded and national research institutes, and by fostering their R&D capabilities, such as the utilization of national research equipment, ultimately facilitating their employment at leading companies in need of such graduates.
This project has been able to provide an additional opportunity for 80 unemployed young master's and doctoral students in science and engineering (74 master's students and 6 doctoral students) to perform industrial R&D at 12 research institutions for six months by allocating 1 billion won in budget through a supplementary budget.

Trainees are selected from unemployed individuals who have obtained a master's or doctoral degree in science and engineering within the last five years.

During the training period (6 months), trainees participate in industry-related R&D projects at research institutions such as government-funded research institutes, and receive customized employment consulting, such as information on excellent companies suitable for their major and career and writing cover letters, through 1:1 dedicated matching with professional employment counselors.

In addition, during the training period, a training allowance of 1.8 million won per month for master's degree holders and 3.5 million won per month for doctoral degree holders is also provided.

Unemployed master's or doctoral degree holders in science and engineering who wish to participate in the training can check R&D projects for each of the 12 training institutions on the Science and Engineering Professional Technical Training Program website , and then apply online to the relevant training institution and project considering their major and desired field of employment. They will be finally selected through the selection process of the training institution, including interviews.

An official from the Ministry of Science and ICT stated, “We hope this supplementary budget project will serve as a bridgehead for young researchers to overcome the crisis of research interruption and enter the industrial sector,” adding, “Master’s and doctoral research personnel "I hope this also provides an opportunity for companies seeking to hire to secure excellent research personnel," he stated.