The government announced today the start of the new project application period for this year as part of its global R&D initiative, aiming to establish a cooperative hub with top overseas research institutions. In particular, through the newly introduced “Top-tier” project, which is valued at 10 billion won, the government plans to set up a collaboration system with leading foreign research institutions.
The Ministry of Science and ICT revealed that it would be accepting applications for new projects under the Cooperative Hub Construction Project with Top Overseas Research Institutions from Feb. 20 to April 9, over a span of 50 days, for the year 2024.
Initiated in 2021, the Cooperative Hub Construction Project with Top Overseas Research Institutions supports the exchange of research personnel and joint research with leading foreign research institutions, centered around domestic universities and government-funded research institutions.
The project consists of three main components: Expansion of the Global Network, Joint Research with Top Overseas Research Institutions, and Establishment of a Cooperation Platform and Support for Joint Research between Top-tier Research Institutions (Top-tier Project).
The Top-tier Research Institution Cooperation Platform Construction Project is aimed at supporting international collaborative research with the world’s leading domestic and overseas research institutions for 10 years. Newly introduced this year, the project offers annual support of approximately 2.5 billion won per project, with a total budget of 10 billion won. It supports consortia between top domestic research institutions and those in the U.S., the EU, and other foreign institutions.
Four new research projects will be selected this year, with research funding being competitively allocated among them. The plan is to strategically operate the international joint research project by making research objectives more flexible.
Koo Hyuk-chae, director-general of Planning and Coordination at the Ministry of Science and ICT, stated, “We will actively cooperate with research fields and related ministries to ensure that the Top-tier project becomes a leading project in the field of international research cooperation, further elevating domestic research institutions to the highest global standards.”