South Korea outlines 2027 R&D plan targeting AI, biotech, quantum tech
South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT announced the next year’s direction for national R&D funding, focusing on securing strategic technologies such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and quantum computing. The plan was approved at the National Science and Technology Advisory Council’s 80th operating committee meeting, which set out the framework for 2027 investment directions and criteria.
The government said it would pursue three overarching goals—leading future technologies, supporting livelihoods and economic growth, and strengthening innovation capacity—across six priority investment areas. The emphasis is on turning research results into tangible impacts for citizens and the economy.
In the AI sphere, the plan aims to expand nationwide AI use and accelerate a national AI transformation, with a goal of building the country toward the so-called AI “G3,” or three-power leadership in AI. Officials said investments would target next‑generation AI technology development, infrastructure, and core talent, and would include practical applications and demonstrations to move beyond infrastructure-building.
In advanced bioscience, the government plans to expand AI-powered bio transformation and platform technologies, linking basic research to clinical use along a full development cycle. It also contemplates establishing AI‑Bio Innovation Research Hubs to nurture technology accumulation, talent development, and broader industry diffusion.
For quantum technology, Korea seeks to bolster computing, communications, and sensing capabilities, prioritizing early successes in communications and sensing. The plan envisions a 10-qubit quantum processing unit based on photonic and ion-trap platforms and a 100-qubit ion-trap quantum computer cloud service to be made available to users.
Beyond AI and quantum, the plan covers space, aerospace, and marine domains, with a focus on indigenous space exploration capabilities and greater private-sector-led space development. In defense, the strategy includes expanding “Spin-On” applications that rapidly translate civilian advanced technologies into defense needs, including dual-use opportunities in drone tech.
In cybersecurity, the government intends to strengthen quantum-resistant encryption and other advanced security technologies, with anticipated work on detecting and identifying cyber threats to the national administration network. In energy and carbon neutrality, the plan prioritizes high-efficiency tandem solar cells, 20-megawatt wind turbines, and high-voltage direct current technologies to speed a renewables-led energy transition.
Economy and industry aims emphasize semiconductors, displays, advanced robotics and manufacturing, next-generation communications, advanced mobility, and secondary batteries. The plan also targets long-horizon, high-risk technologies such as compound semiconductors, power semiconductors, and advanced packaging, while seeking to ensure supply-chain resilience through continued material investments.
Administratively, the plan calls for a shift to performance-based funding priorities and a restructured budgeting process. It includes unifying access to major R&D systems under a single portal named “Research24” to streamline login and use, with a specialized AI service to support budget deliberations beginning in May. Officials said the approach would leverage an in-house AI foundation model trained on past allocation data to identify redundancies and optimize funding.
Park In-gyu, head of the Ministry’s Science and Technology Innovation Headquarters, described the investment direction as a guide for agencies when submitting budget requests, with concrete programs and budget details to be fleshed out during the budget process. Im Yo-eop, policy and coordination officials, and other ministry leaders were quoted describing the aim as turning R&D into visible, nationwide benefits.
The 2027 investment directions will be circulated to the Budget Office and related ministries and will serve as the basic guideline for R&D budget allocation and adjustments through September. The plan signals a broad push to convert Korea’s research expenditures into scalable technologies and measurable public outcomes.
Why this matters beyond Korea: the United States and other advanced economies are watching how Korea channels R&D toward AI leadership, quantum readiness, and secure supply chains. Korea’s emphasis on private–public collaboration, regional innovation, and rapid transition from research to deployment could influence global partnerships, joint research opportunities, and international competition in key technology sectors such as semiconductors, biotechnology, and advanced energy. For U.S. firms and policymakers, the developments may affect collaboration opportunities, supply-chain risk assessments, and the pace of shared innovation in AI, quantum, and defense-related tech.