The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) unveiled these plans on Thursday as part of the new 2026 Brain Pool (BP/BP+) Program, designed to boost the nation’s global research competitiveness. Initially launched in 1994, the Brain Pool Program seeks to internationalize Korea’s research landscape and secure new growth drivers.
Emphasizing the value of top-tier science and technology talent, the MSIT has increased the program’s budget by roughly 40%. The funding jumps from 38.8 billion won in 2025 to 54.6 billion won this year, according to a report by DongA Science magazine.
The updated program features two main pathways for funding. The new “BP+ Institution-led” track is a large-scale initiative granting greater autonomy to domestic universities, research institutes, and government-affiliated organizations. It aims to help them recruit outstanding overseas research teams or individual scholars to generate world-class results.
Five institutions will be selected to receive approximately 3 billion won annually for up to five years, structured as a two-plus-three-year term, through block funding. The financial support covers salaries, recruitment costs, and research expenses. Institutions may nominate a candidate pool three times larger than their final selection based on their foreign talent recruitment strategies.
Meanwhile, the existing “BP Individual-led” track plans to select about 80 projects. This pathway offers up to 350 million won per researcher for up to three years. This funding also covers salaries, living allowances, and research expenses.
Applications are currently open via the National Research Foundation of Korea’s Integrated R&D Information System (iris.go.kr). The deadline for the Institution-led track is April 10, while the Individual-led track deadline falls on April 16. Further details are available on the MSIT and NRF websites.
This initiative aligns with a joint action plan introduced by the MSIT and relevant ministries last November, aimed at helping Korea make a significant leap toward becoming a global science and technology powerhouse, as stated in a press release on the ministry’s website.
The plan was unveiled at a national policy briefing titled “Korea Dreaming Again of Becoming a Nation of Scientists and Engineers.”
The government recognizes that as global competition for technological leadership accelerates, particularly in fields such as artificial intelligence, major economies are rapidly scaling up their investments. Meanwhile, South Korea faces the mounting challenge of economic stagnation. Against this backdrop, the government views innovation-driven, technology-led growth as an urgent national priority.
A central objective of the broader plan is to create a virtuous cycle where top talent gathers, generates innovative outcomes, and uses those achievements to attract even more talent. To achieve this, the strategy outlines methods to attract and support science and technology talent while fundamentally reforming the R&D ecosystem, laying a strong foundation for Korea’s science and technology policies through 2030.
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