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 will be included in the ministry's 2027 R&D budget proposal, which amounts to 39.5 trillion won. The science ministry said it held an inaugural budget planning workshop with officials from research labs, private sector and academia in central Seoul, and decided to focus investments in five areas: the government's "three mega projects," next-generation AI technologies, AI transformation, the securing of future technologies and talent development. For the government's "tripolar mega projects," the ministry has earmarked a total of 662.1 billion won. The amount will be invested in the R&D of physical AI technologies, AI semiconductors and data centers. In particular, the ministry has allocated 384.9 b