{"slug": "science-ministry-seeks-nearly-2-2-bil-in-ict-research-budget-next-year", "title": "Science ministry seeks nearly $2.2 bil. in ICT research budget next year", "summary": "South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT plans to invest nearly 3 trillion won ($2.2 billion) in information and communications technology research and development next year, a 23.6 percent increase over 2026, as part of its effort to secure leadership in the global artificial intelligence race. The ICT allocation sits within the ministry's 2027 R&D budget proposal of 39.5 trillion won, with 662.1 billion won earmarked for the government's \"tripolar mega projects\" covering physical AI technologies, AI semiconductors and data centers, including 384.9 billion won for a portion of that effort. The ministry set the priorities at an inaugural budget planning workshop with research labs, the private sector and academia in central Seoul, focusing on the three mega projects, next-generation AI technologies, AI transformation, future technologies and talent development.", "body_md": "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", "url": "https://wpnews.pro/news/science-ministry-seeks-nearly-2-2-bil-in-ict-research-budget-next-year", "canonical_source": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/20260915/science-ministry-seeks-nearly-22-bil-in-ict-research-budget-next-year?utm_source=rss", "published_at": "2026-09-15 05:57:02+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-09-15 06:01:32.663141+00:00", "lang": "en", "topics": ["ai-policy", "artificial-intelligence", "ai-chips", "ai-infrastructure", "ai-research"], "entities": ["Ministry of Science and ICT", "South Korea", "tripolar mega projects"], "alternates": {"html": "https://wpnews.pro/news/science-ministry-seeks-nearly-2-2-bil-in-ict-research-budget-next-year", "markdown": "https://wpnews.pro/news/science-ministry-seeks-nearly-2-2-bil-in-ict-research-budget-next-year.md", "text": "https://wpnews.pro/news/science-ministry-seeks-nearly-2-2-bil-in-ict-research-budget-next-year.txt", "jsonld": "https://wpnews.pro/news/science-ministry-seeks-nearly-2-2-bil-in-ict-research-budget-next-year.jsonld"}}