1,000 Next-Generation National Scientists and Engineers to Be Trained Starting Next Year

[Financial News] Next-generation national scientists and engineers will begin to be systematically developed starting next year. The goal is to train 200 people a year, or 1,000 in total, and help them grow into leaders who can build the foundation for the country's scientific and technological development.
According to the Ministry of Science and ICT on the 31st, the Ministry of Science and ICT will nurture next-generation national scientists and engineers starting next year as part of this year's national scientists and engineers program. Eligible candidates are Korean nationals with proven independent research capabilities and strong potential to grow into world-class researchers. The program also includes non-tenure-track researchers who were appointed to at least assistant professor level at a university within the past 10 years, as well as senior researchers at government-funded research institutes appointed within the past 10 years or researchers with up to 15 years of research experience after earning a master's degree or higher.
From 2027, 200 people will be selected each year, bringing the total to 1,000. Candidates will be chosen across the 16 national science and technology standard classifications, taking into account the characteristics of industry, academia and research institutes. Selection will be based on independent research capabilities, achievements, and the potential to grow into researchers of global caliber.
Those selected as next-generation national scientists and engineers will receive an annual honorary grant of 50 million won and a national scientist and engineer stipend. Stable research conditions within their affiliated institutions will also be arranged. Support will be provided for up to five years.
In the third year, MSIT will conduct an interim performance review and upgrade customized support to promote the growth of national scientists and engineers and ensure stable research activities. The results will be made public, and research directions and growth strategies will be adjusted if necessary. NRF will also establish a dedicated team to identify and provide ongoing support programs.
Before that, recruitment for the leader-level national scientists and engineers will begin with a call for applications in early September, and 20 people will be finalized in December. The leader-level program will select one to two people in each of the 16 national science and technology standard classifications, and 20 people will be chosen each year starting this year, for a total of 100.
An MSIT official said, "We aim to select outstanding researchers as national scientists and engineers, help them grow into world-class researchers, and use them as key national assets for scientific and technological development." The official added, "Along with honorary support that reflects the state's respect, we will back researchers' continuous growth through flexible financial support."
Meanwhile, the Korea Science Academy of KAIST will be designated or converted within this year and open in 2029. The academy will provide university-level advanced math and science education and research opportunities that are difficult to encounter in a regular curriculum, using KAIST's educational and research infrastructure. With greater autonomy, it plans to recruit doctoral-level faculty, separate education and administration, and exempt staff from rotational assignments. The school will also create an environment focused on securing excellent teachers and concentrating on student education. About three schools will be selected from high schools located in regions without gifted schools.
[email protected] Yeon Ji-an Reporter