Korea Awaits
Your Brilliance

01 Program Overview

1. 1) Purpose

   • Nurture postdoctoral researchers (AI-driven scientists) for AI + core science / engineering convergence (AI+X)
   • Build a sustainableAI+S&T postdoctoral ecosystemacross universities, industries, and government labs
   • Support young global researchersto pursue independent, interdisciplinary research under top mentors
   • Transform Korea’s R&D structure from “professor-centered”to “postdoc-centered innovation”

2. 2) Supported Areas

   • AI-driven science and technology convergence fields

3. 3) Details of Support

   • National flagship AI+S&T talent initiative (2025–2029) jointly led by the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT)and the four Institutes of Science and Technology (KAIST, GIST, DGIST, UNIST)

02 Program Structure

1. 1) Core Program Features

   • 400 postdoctoral fellows in 2025 across 8 top research Group(AI-CRED, AI-PRISM, LLM, AITA, etc.)
   • Annual salary: KRW 90M(incl. institutional overheads), multi-mentor guidance, cross-institution research mobility
   • Supported by national R&D funds, managed under the National R&D Innovation Act

2. 2) Progress(2025 Achievements)

   • Researchers: Korean(etc) 125, International 103, Korean(Newly graduated Ph.D.) 116, Korean(Reshoring) 56
   • Rapid Recruitment: 8 research groups successfully appointed 400 postdoctoral fellows within just three months
   • Global Talent Attraction: 103 fellows (26%) are outstanding international researchers
   • Reshoring of Korean Talents: 56 fellows (14%) are returning Korean scientists previously active overseas
   • Retention of New Ph.D. Graduates: 116 fellows (29%) are newly graduated domestic Ph.D.sretained in Korea, preventing talent outflow

03 Expansion Plan(2026)

1. 1) Scale-up

   • Expanding from 400 to 1,000 Postdoctoral FellowsNationwide by 2026(launching 8 new research Groups)

2. 2) Scope Expansion

   • Broadening the research domains from AI+S&T to all strategic technologies

3. 3) Globalization

   • Expanding international recruitment from the U.S. to Europe, Singapore, and Japan to attract outstanding global talents

※ Related Links

• Official Website
• Related News
• 4 Institutes of Science and Technology (KAIST, GIST, DGIST, UNIST) Research Center Recruitment Info