Science ministry seeks record budget for 2026 to support R&D projects

The science ministry said Monday it will seek a record budget for next year to revitalize research and development (R&D) projects, and secure leadership in artificial intelligence (AI) and other cutting-edge technologies. The 2026 budget proposal, to be submitted to the National Assembly, calls for a record 23.7 trillion won ($17 billion) in annual spending, up 12.9 percent from this year's 21 trillion won, according to the Ministry of Science and ICT. "The budget proposal for 2026 reflects the strong commitment by the Lee Jae Myung government to overcome the low-growth crisis and leap forward to become an innovative economy based on AI and science technologies," Science Minister Bae Kyung-hoon said. "We will implement key projects promptly to deliver tangible achievements for the people, and the record budget plan will not just be numbers," he added. Of the total, 11.8 trillion won will be allocated to R&D projects, up 21.6 percent from the 2025 spending. The budget also includes 2.74 trillion won for basic science research in 2026, up 17.2 percent from a year earlier. In 2024, the formeWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times