Academic Journals Evaluation

Improve the quality of academic journals by establishing a management system for domestic academic journals

Enhance the research capabilities of domestic researchers and promote the active dissemination of research outcomes

Support the global competitiveness of leading domestic academic journals

Research areas: All academic areas

Eligibility: Academic journals published by domestic academic organizations

 Support details

Academic Conferences

Strengthen the exchange of knowledge and collaboration among domestic and international researchers by supporting organizing academic conferences

Enhance the global competitiveness of domestic academic organizations

Research areas: Humanities and social sciences (including the arts and physical education)

Eligibility: Domestic academic organization publishing academic journal listed in KCI* DB

* KCI; Korea Citation Index

Support details

Support for Academic Organizations; Academic Journals

Directorate for Research Policy, Performance & Strategy

Research areas: Humanities and social sciences (including the arts and physical education)

Eligibility: Domestic academic organization publishing academic journal listed in KCI * DB * KCI; Korea Citation Index

Support details

Brain Korea 21 FOUR

■ Transformation in education and research fueled by the Fourth Industrial Revolution and technological progress

The Fourth Industrial Revolution, driven by scientific and technological progress and socio-economic shifts, requires innovative talent fostered through interdisciplinary education and convergent research

■ Rising demand for highly skilled R&D professionals

Despite declining school-age and working populations and slower economic growth, the demand for highly skilled R&D talent continues to increase

■ Expanding role of research-oriented universities as knowledge creators

Globally, research universities are evolving beyond academic inquiry to address regional, national, and global challenges

■ Graduate education and research support centered on research quality

Major countries emphasize the quality of research outcomes—such as publication impact—in evaluating and supporting university research and graduate talent development

Duration: September 2020 – August 2027 (7 years)

Budget: KRW 522.5 billion annually in 2025; approximately KRW 3.2 trillion overall

Professional Experienced Personnel Invitation Program

To invite highly qualified scientists and engineers with extensive R&D experience as well as senior policy administrators and executives from government, industry, and research institutions to contribute to regional development and mentor the next generation.

To foster local talent with interdisciplinary competencies in science, technology, and management by supporting education and research across the sciences and humanities at regional universities

Fields: All fields from science and technology to humanities and social sciences. 

Eligible Participants: Senior-level policy administrators and professionals from government agencies, research institutes, and industries

   * Qualifications: Must apply within 3 years* of retirement and be under 65 years of age (as of appointment start date) 

      ** If currently serving at an institution related to their previous post, the final retirement must be within the past 5 years 

Support Details: Monthly research stipend of KRW 3 million* 

     * If the host institution provides more than KRW 1 million as matching funds, the NRF will cover the difference (3% bonus points awarded during evaluation)

Duration: Up to 3 years (2+1), with a review after year 2 to determine continuation

Scale: KRW 36 million per project per year (When matching funds are provided by the host institution, the NRF will cover the remaining amount)

Areas: Education and Research / Regional Development

Stipend Program for Graduate Students in Science and Engineering

To enable graduate students in science and engineering to focus on their research by ensuring a minimum standard of living, while also supporting the development of a university-level system for distributing and managing student stipends.

 Eligibility: Full-time graduate students in science and engineering actively engaged in research

 Eligible Institutions: Universities operating graduate programs in science and engineering

  * Excluding four national institutes of science and technology

  * In accordance with Article 13, Paragraph 4, Subparagraph 4 of the National R&D Innovation Act, R&D accounts should be installed and operated for all R&D institutes among integrated R&D institutes 

 Planned Duration: 9 years (2025-2033)

 Planned Budget: KRW 60 billion

  * University R&D budgets will be calculated according to the formula for each support item and may be adjusted based on budget availability

 Planned Support Components: 

* Supplementary funding to guarantee a minimum level of student remuneration 

* Funding to establish university accounts

* Administrative expenses for the operation of research stipends at each university

Support Program for National Universities

To enhance the competitiveness and public accountability of national universities through their autonomous innovation

  Eligible Institutions: All 37 national universities in Korea

Support Details: Tailored support based on each university’s unique role, local context, and talent development needs, enabling universities to implement self-directed innovation strategies

Duration / Budget: March 2025 – February 2026 (1 year) / KRW 424.3 billion (2025)

Support Program for University Innovation

To foster creative and interdisciplinary talent and enhance the competitiveness of higher education by supporting structural reforms led by individual universities through autonomous innovation

Eligible Institutions: All universities excluding those designated as financially at-risk by the Korea Advancing Schools Foundation and those not certified* by the Korea Council for University Education

      *Universities under certification deferment, certification suspension, or non-certification (including revocation), as well as those that have not applied for institutional accreditation

     **138 universities eligible for general financial support (135 private, 2 national university corporations, 1 public) 

Details: Block funding will be provided to help universities pursue self-directed innovation to strengthen overall capacities in education, research, and institutional management

Duration: March 1, 2025 – February 29, 2028 (3 years)

Budget: KRW 795.5 billion (2025)

Humanities Utmost Sharing System(HUSS)

A multidisciplinary approach grounded in the humanities and social sciences is need to address complex societal challenges of the future

Despite growing societal demand, the foundation for humanities and social sciences education at universities continues to weaken

In response, universities are encouraged to pursue interdisciplinary collaboration across departments and inter-university partnerships in areas of comparative advantage to establish an effective, humanities-centered convergence education system

 Convergence Education: Develop and operate academic curricula—including regular and extracurricular programs—that integrate various disciplines centered around the humanities to address social issues

 Inter-university Cooperation: Jointly develop curricula based on each university’s comparative advantages and promote the exchanges personnel and resources to establish an effective interdisciplinary education system

 Outcome Dissemination: Enhance and scale up project outcomes through forums, and promote sharing of successful courses both online and offline to support capacity-building among emerging institutions

Convergence and Open Sharing System(COSS)

To establish a new education system that develops and operates interdisciplinary curricula in cutting-edge fields by jointly utilizing distributed resources between universities in metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas

 Establish national-scale university consortia and regional–industry collaboration systems

 Develop standardized interdisciplinary curricula that span multiple departments or majors

 Operate flexible academic systems that blur the boundaries within and beyond universities

 Promote the dissemination of educational content and project outcomes nationwide

Support Program for College Innovation

To enhance the quality of higher vocational education and cultivate future skilled professionals by supporting structural reforms driven by self-initiated innovation plans developed by junior (technical) colleges

 Eligible Institutions: Junior colleges as defined in Article 2, Paragraph 4 of the Higher Education Act that meet the program’s participation criteria

  * Institutions classified as financially at-risk or without certification are excluded

 Details: 

 1) Support the establishment of a foundation for institution-led innovation in line with the restructuring of the university support system under the Regional Innovation System and Education (RISE)

 2) Promote appropriate institutional right-sizing in response to demographic changes and foster talent aligned with industry and regional demands

 3) Strengthen institutional accountability through enhanced performance-based management

Support Program for New Industry Specialized Leading Colleges 2.0

To promote talent development in emerging industries at junior colleges by advancing educational innovation tailored to regional industrial needs and strengthening collaboration with relevant institutions

To cultivate industry-aligned talent by identifying specialization areas at each college and innovating relevant curricula to meet the needs of new regional industries

 Eligible Institutions: Junior colleges as defined under Article 2, Paragraph 4 of the Higher Education Act (colleges not yet selected as of 2025)

 Areas: High-tech and emerging technology sectors as classified under enrollment quota standards, including specific subfields

 Details: 

 1) Identify specialized areas in emerging industries based on each institution’s internal capacity and external environment, and support the development or revision of relevant curricula to cultivate top-tier talent

 2) Enhance teaching effectiveness by introducing innovative instructional methods, strengthening faculty capabilities in line with industry trends, and increasing flexibility in academic operations

 3) Improve educational outcomes by upgrading learning environments and establishing collaborative networks with relevant institutions to support the development of high-quality talent in emerging industry sectors

Support Program for Meister Colleges

To introduce and establish a new model of higher vocational training that supports the systematic and long-term development of competencies, providing clear pathways for students to become highly skilled professionals M123

 Eligible Institutions: Junior colleges as defined under Article 2, Paragraph 4 of the Higher Education Act (colleges not yet selected as of 2025)

 Details: 

 1) Restructure existing programs and introduce new ones to develop and implement tailored, job-oriented curricula aligned with industry needs

 2) Create field-based learning environments by recruiting industry-experienced faculty, upgrading educational facilities, and providing comprehensive administrative and financial support for students

 3) Promote employment and entrepreneurship by establishing collaborative systems with local industries, supporting the cultivation of highly skilled professionals

 Beyond Research Innovation and Development for Good Enterprises3.0(BRIDGE3.0)

To promote the transfer and commercialization of university-held research outcomes by supporting the identification of high-potential research results and providing assistance with prototype validation and commercialization, through collaboration among universities, local governments, and industry

 Applicants: Universities and industrial colleges under Article 2, Paragraphs 1 and 2 of the Higher Education Act

 Application Unit: University-industry cooperation foundation (main and branch campuses may apply separately)

 Requirements: 

  ➊ Cash matching of government funding for 30% or higher

  ➋ Establish regulations for the use of technology royalties and prevention of conflicts of interest, including provisions for contributor compensation 

  ➌ Manage technology royalties in a separate account exclusively for technology commercialization purposes

 Details: 

 ㅇ Support the Advancement and Commercialization of Creative Assets: 

  (1) Discover and identify creative assets held by universities

  (2) Assess final technology needs from industry partners

  (3) Conduct market environment and demand analyses 

   - R&BD Planning Support: Provide funding for asset design, follow-up R&D planning, commercialization strategies, and national project proposal development 

   - Feasibility Analysis: Support activities such as customer identification, market and environmental analysis, and business model development

 ㅇ Support for Commercialization Development: Support the production and evaluation of prototypes, including performance testing and certification, based on high-potential, innovative technologies

   - Prototype Validation: Support the production and evaluation of prototypes, including performance testing and certification by external agencies, based on high-potential, innovative technologies

   - Commercialization Projects:　Provide funding for additional R&D, prototype development, and technical validation for researchers working on national strategic technologies

 ㅇ Convergence Programs: Support prototype validation and commercialization development of integrated program outcomes involving universities, local governments, and industries 

 ㅇ Personnel Costs for Dedicated Staff: Cover salaries, benefits, and overtime (up to 30% of the project budget) for technology transfer and commercialization staff at university-industry cooperation foundations or university-affiliated technology holding companies

STARTUP Co-Op University for Transition of edu(SCOUT)

 To bridge gaps in entrepreneurship education across universities and regions through shared startup education

To enhance regional collaboration and assist innovative entrepreneurs in starting their businesses

To establish university-led regional hubs for entrepreneurship education

 Eligible Institutions: 

   * University consortia consisting of universities and junior colleges under the Higher Education Act with established capacity and infrastructure for entrepreneurship education (must operate entrepreneurship-friendly academic and HR systems and have a dedicated unit for student startup support)

   * As of 2025, 10 consortia (5 general university-led, 5 junior college-led) are receiving support

 Scale: 

   * General universities: KRW 750 million per year per consortium

   * Junior colleges: KRW 400 milliom per year per consortium

 Key Details: 

   * Advancement of entrepreneurship-friendly academic systems and cultivation of an entrepreneurial campus culture

   * Development and use of an integrated entrepreneurship education platform to reduce regional disparities

   * Development of high-quality educational content and model entrepreneurship programs to support and advise latecoming (non-participating) universities, strengthening regional entrepreneurship education capacity

Start-up Pioneering in Research and InnovaTion(SPRINT)

Promote university-based lab startups through a multi-ministry collaboration involving the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Science and ICT, and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups

Support technology-driven startups that leverage outstanding university research to create high-quality jobs

Foster startup-oriented universities by strengthening infrastructure, including startup-friendly academic and personnel systems

 Eligible Institutions: 

   * Universities or institutes of science and technology that have (or plan to establish) promising (potential) startup laboratories

   * Applications can be submitted from a single university (standalone type) or a consortium of universities (lead and participating universities)

 Scale: 

   * Standalone: About KRW 900 million per university

   * Consortium: About KRW 1.2 billion per consortium

      ** Jointly funded by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Science and ICT

 Key Details:

   * Ministry of Education

      - Strengthen institutional infrastructure to support university startup activities

      - Develop and implement specialized curricula tailored to lab-based entrepreneurship

   * Ministry of Science and ICT

      - Identify and pre-plan startup items based on university-held technologies

      - Provide support for business modeling, proof of concept, and incorporation

   * Post-Startup Support

      - Early-stage startups may be connected to follow-up programs, including the “Startup-Centered Universities” initiative to continue stable growth (Ministry of SMEs and Startups)

Regional Innovation System & Education(RISE)

Buliding a Regional Development Ecosystem - including fostering local talent, supporting employment and entrepreneurship, and encouraging local settlement

   1. Local universities Revitalize Regions

      - Empowering universities to serve as strategic hubs for regional developmnet

   2. Regions Cultivate Universities

      - Fostering competetive local universities to drive regional innovation