2017 Brochure for Basic Research

Programs in Science and Engineering

Nov. 2016

What is “Basic Research Program?”

○  “Basic Research” is experimental or theoretical work undertaken primarily to acquire new knowledge of the underlying foundations of phenomena and observable facts. MSIP (Ministry of Science, ICT, and Future Planning) and MOE (Ministry of Education) fund small to mid size budget to universities in basic research particular

Legal Framework for Implementation of Basic Science Research Program

○  Article 11 on Fundamental Law in Science and Technology , Article 5 on Promotional Law in Academic Affairs

○  Article 6 on Basic Science Research Program Implementation, Basic Science Research Promotion and Technology Development Support Act

○  Regulation on Management of National R&D Program, Detailed Regulation on R&D Program in Science and Technology within MSIP (Ministry of Science, ICT, and Future Planning), Detailed Regulation on R&D Program in Science and Engineering within MOE (Ministry of Education)

Research Support Programs

Individual Approach	Research support for individuals with creative idea and strategic research
Group Approach	Research support in groups. Group approach targets nurturing researchers in excellence to promote research in basic science

Programs

○ Individual Approach

Programs			Objectives and Features	Beneficiaries	Initial Support		Follow On Support
					Annual Average Funding	Duration	Annual Average Funding	Duration
Open calls	Leading Researchers		Support world class researchers at in-depth level for original and new technologies acquisition	Faculty members (permanent or non-permanent) from science and engineering background, Research staff from public or private research institute	3~8 hundred million won	9 yrs (3+3+3)	3~8 hundred million won	3 yrs
	Mid Career Researchers		Nurture mid career researchers with creativity and set growth path to become world leaders		0.5~3 hundred million won	1~5 yrs	0.5~3 hundred million won	1~5 yrs
	Young Researchers	Young Researchers	Lead and motivate young researchers to maximize research capacity	Faculty members (permanent or non-permanent) from science and engineering background *Time after Ph.D conferment should not exceed 7 years or person under age of 39 is available for application	0.5~1 hundred million won *Further funding available to equip research infra at initial stage	1~5 yrs *Further funding to equip research infra : available for 1 yr	0.5~1 hundred million won	1~5 yrs
		First Research in life time	Provide first lifetime research experience to young researchers and secure opportunities for research	Faculty members (permanent) in universities aged under 39	0.3 hundred million won	1~5 yrs	-	-

Open calls	Individual Research in Basic Science and Engineering		Support grassroots in science and engineering, strengthening research basis and competitiveness (Sub-programs : ① grassroots support, ② support research under protection, ③ support researchers in local universities)	Faculty members (permanent or non-permanent) from science and engineering background, Research staff from public or private research institute	0.1~0.5 hundred million won	1~10 yrs	0.1~0.5 hundred million won	10 yrs at the maximum including initial period of application
	Nurturing Next Generation Researchers	Post- doctoral training in Korea	Train post-doc researchers to research in universities and institutes (Korea or abroad)	Ph. D holders from Korean University or abroad *Time after Ph.D conferment should not exceed 5 years	0.4 hundred million won	1 yr	-	-
		Post- doctoral training abroad		Ph. D holders from Korean University *Time after Ph.D conferment should not exceed 5 years
		Research Fellows		Research Fellows (prospective candidate included)	0.5 hundred million won	within 3 yrs	-	-
		Presidential Post- doctoral Fellowship		Ph. D holder from Korean University or abroad under age of 39	1.3 hundred million won	5 yrs (3+2)	-	-
Strategic Calls	Strategic Project		Support basic research areas with spillover effect in mid to long term at national level	Faculty members (permanent or non-permanent) from science and engineering background, Research staff from public or private research institute ※ X project is open to all	1~3 hundred million won	1~5 yrs	0.5~3 hundred million won	1~5 yrs
	X Project		Support project with new approach in untouched issues		Funding at will	1 yr	Funding at will	1 yr

* Further funding for setting up research environment is available for researchers less than 3 years after employment (0.5 – 1 hundred million won at initial stage of research, overhead excluded)

○ Group Approach

Programs		Objectives and Features	Beneficiaries	Annual Average Funding	Duration (at maximum)
Leading Research Center	Science Research Center (SRC)	Nurture premier research groups in confronting challenges, strengthening national competitiveness in basic science eventually	Group of researchers in 10 or so *Group must be affiliated with graduate school of science and engineering	13 hundred million won	7 yrs
	Engineering Research Center (ERC)	Nurture premier research groups in engineering, transforming research outcome from fundamental to applied. Lead research groups to work act as focal point in industry-university relations		20 hundred million won
	Medical Research Center (MRC)	Nurture research groups in medical science, dentistry, oriental medicine, and pharmacy to probe human phenomena and disease mechanism, strengthening bio-health competitiveness eventually	Group of researchers in 10 or so *Group must be affiliated with graduate school of basic medical science	10 hundred million won
	Convergence Research Center (CRC)	Nurture interdisciplinary research groups in solving social issues, producing outcome based on public needs, and creating world-recognized knowledge	Group of researchers in 15 or so *Group must be affiliated with graduate school of basic medical science	20 hundred million won
Basic Science Research Lab		Support grouping small research groups in certain subjects so as to strengthen research capability	Group of professors (3 to 5) from universities in science and engineering	2~5 hundred million won	3 yrs (Follow on Support for 3 yrs)
Global Research Lab		Strengthen global network and uplift research capability through global research network	Group of researchers composed of 2 professors in science and engineering plus research collaborator abroad	5 hundred million won	6 yrs (3+3)
University-designed Key Research Institute		Design research institute in universities as focal point and provide growth path to young researchers	Research institutes in universities of science and engineering	5 hundred million won (overhead cost excluded)	9 yrs (3+3+3)

* At initial stage of stages, further funding will be provided for purchasing equipment(First stage : within 2 hundred million won, Second and third stage : within 1 hundred million won)

Budget

				(Unit : Million Won)
		Budget(A), '16	Budget(B), '17	Increase or decrease rate (B-A)	Increase or decrease rate
Total		1,104,138	1,264,317	160179	14.5%
【Individual Approach】		923,726	1,068,306	144,580	15.7%
Open calls	ㅇ Leading Researchers	57,936	52,299	△5,637	△9.7%
	ㅇ Mid Career Researchers	369,556	459,966	90,410	24.5%
	ㅇ Young Researchers	118,073	148,166	30,093	25.5%
	ㅇ Individual Research in Basic Science and Engineering	268,050	303,400	35,350	13.2%
	ㅇ Nurturing Next Generation Researchers	48,181	55,296	7,115	14.8%
Strategic Calls		61,930	49,179	△12,751	△20.6%
【Group Approach】
ㅇ Leading Research Center		108,749	115,405	6,656	6.1%
- Science Research Center(SRC)		27,414	31,215	3,801	13.9%
- Engineering Research Center (ERC)		36,195	43,823	7,628	21.1%
- Medical Research Center(MRC)		32,940	30,967	△1,973	△6.0%
- Convergence Research Center(CRC)		12,200	9,400	△2,800	△23.0%
ㅇ Basic Science Research Lab		23,675	32,501	8,826	37.3%
ㅇ Global Research Lab		22,750	20,376	2,374	10.4%
ㅇ Key Research Institutes in Universities		25,238	27,729	2,491	9.9%