A case study on the improvement of institution of “High-Risk High-Return R&D” in Korea

Despite the increase of government spending on R&D in South Korea, there have been limits in enhancing the challenging trait and creativity of research outcomes. A new approach to the current mode of R&D is considered necessary to tackle this problem. In 2015, South Korea operated fi...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Byung Yong Hwang, Hee Ju Jun, Mee Hyang Chang, Dae Cheol Kim
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2017-09-01
Series:Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market and Complexity
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2199-8531/3/3/19
Description
Summary:Despite the increase of government spending on R&D in South Korea, there have been limits in enhancing the challenging trait and creativity of research outcomes. A new approach to the current mode of R&D is considered necessary to tackle this problem. In 2015, South Korea operated fifteen programs, namely “High-risk Highreturn R&D,” from seven government ministries. The purpose of this study is to examine the actual conditions for adoption and to further promote early establishment and wide implementation of the new “High-risk High-return policy” in National R&D, and to suggest ways to improve it. In this study, we have approached the case with a life-cycle perspective of planmanagement- evaluation of R&D by carrying out a survey and unstandardized interviews with key staff from R&D management agencies. Based on the results of the analysis, we suggest improvements in three aspects: 1) flexible system operation, 2) government ministries’ autonomy and accountability, 3) effective incentives. Finally, we discuss possible improvements, future directions, and the limits of this study.
ISSN:2199-8531