The Korean government is launching a national "K-Moonshot" project aimed at achieving a major leap in science and technology competitiveness in the AI era. The initiative will consolidate national science and technology AI resources and reorganize national R&D programs under a private expert-led system with strong authority granted to specialists in each key field.
The Ministry of Science and ICT announced the "K-Moonshot Implementation Strategy (draft)" at the second plenary session of the National AI Strategy Committee on Sunday.
The core objectives are to double research productivity by 2030 and solve 12 national missions across eight fields using science and technology AI by 2035. Research productivity refers to the share of top 1% most-cited papers, with a target of doubling the current level to 8.2%.
The implementation strategy has two main pillars: building a "National Science AI Integrated Platform" to consolidate data and combine industry-academia-research capabilities, and appointing national program directors (PDs) for each mission to drive strong execution. The ministry explained that while this framework is similar to the U.S. "Genesis Mission," it focuses selectively on Korea's areas of strength.
First, the government will build a National Science AI Integrated Platform that integrates AI-dedicated research data, graphics processing units (GPUs), AI models, autonomous laboratories, and AI agents. Specifically, the plan allocates 30% of Supercomputer No. 6's GPUs and 15-20% of advanced GPU procurement for science and technology AI, securing more than 8,000 GPUs in total.
The initiative will also collect and open high-quality research data from 23 government-funded research institutes, four science and technology institutes, and directly-managed research organizations. It will support automatic collection of research data from large research facilities and standardization of research data by field.
Approximately 464 billion won will be invested in building science-specialized AI foundation models in six fields: bio, materials, secondary batteries, semiconductors and displays, earth sciences, and mathematics. AI agents supporting the entire research cycle from hypothesis generation to experimentation and analysis will be developed by stage and field, with support for building AI autonomous laboratories available 24 hours a day.
The "National Science AI Research Center" supporting these efforts will be established under the National Research Council of Science and Technology (NST) to serve as a hub for integrating science AI resources and research collaboration.
A cooperative system will be built to consolidate industry-academia-research capabilities for each mission. AI and infrastructure companies will provide AI models, cloud, and computing capabilities, while domain companies will contribute field data, leveraging each participant's strengths.
The national missions span eight fields: advanced bio (new drugs, brain-computer interface), future energy (nuclear power, fusion, solar cells), physical AI (humanoids, general AI), space (space data centers), materials (rare earth elements), AI scientists, semiconductors, and quantum technology. The ministry plans to finalize the missions next month after expert review and cross-ministry consultation.
A notable aspect is that each mission will operate under a PD-led responsibility system. Private PDs with strong authority will be appointed for each mission to adjust existing projects, plan new large-scale R&D initiatives, and oversee project integration, coordination, and priority budget allocation. The ministry also plans to prepare special legislation to facilitate smooth administrative operations.
The PDs will belong to the K-Moonshot Task Force headed by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT, sharing and reviewing milestone-based periodic progress through regular Science and Technology Ministers' Meetings.
"The structure for each mission will vary by field—we will bring in PDs with experience in AI development for AI projects, and those with reactor experience for MSR," said Kim Sung-soo, Director General for R&D Policy at the Ministry of Science and ICT. "We are currently in the process of listing PD candidates."