When the outcome of the project is published in a research journal, the paper should include the acknowledgement as shown below.

※ References

[NRF] A Guide to International Cooperation Programs of 2019

[NRF] Announcement for New Proposal Application Basic Research Program in Science and Engineering for 2019

[NSF] https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2019/nsf19034/nsf19034.jsp

[JSPS] https://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-foresight/data/faq/FAQ_foresight_en_ver.201803.pdf

[Cornell Uni.] https://international.weill.cornell.edu/visiting-international-students/apply-our-program/faq-students-applying

When a principal investigator is dispatched to a domestic or overseas research institute for 6 months or longer from the commencement date of the project, a prior approval should be obtained.

 ※ If a principal investigator is already dispatched on the commencement date of the project, an approval should be acquired from the host institute immediately.

It depends on programs. Generally speaking, it takes several months to fully process applications and receive response from partner countries. The result will be notified on e-R&D system when the selection process is over.

Most international programs contain three stages. Please refer to the table below.

To solve a technical problem, you can contact the help-line call center(1544-6118). If you need an administrative help, you can contact a staff of the industry-academy cooperation team in the organization to which you belong or contact the program manager of NRF. 

You should log in to the NRF's ‘Integrated Research Support System (https://ernd.nrf.re.kr)’ for the registration of the research proposal and then acquire an approval from the principal host institution (affiliated institute).

Please refer to the announcement and its attached files. They provide the grant usage guidelines (including those stated in the proposal). You can also contact with the industry-academia collaboration office of your affiliated institution because research grants are centrally managed by the director of the industry-academia collaboration office (or institute director) of the principal investigator.

Some programs have the page limit and it is recommended to read announcement first before you write a proposal. You may leave blanks but we recommend you to write down approximate numbers or contents to avoid computational error when you upload the file to our online system.

The minimum participation rate is not fixed by a specific regulation in most of International Cooperative Development Programs. If any, you can check it through program announcement.

The rule constrains researchers to do numerous projects so that they can remain focused on qualitative aspects of their work. According to the rule, the number of projects that researchers can conduct simultaneously should be 5 or fewer, among which the researcher can participate as a principal investigator should be 3 or fewer. Many International Cooperative Development Programs accept it in their guidelines.

The criteria which defines eligibility varies according to programs. Please check the announcement of each program before you apply. In most cases, researchers at Korean institute/organization eligible under Article 14, Section 1 of Basic Sciences Promotion Act are considered as qualified applicants.

A project principal investigator(PI) will apply respectively to the funding agency of each country(Korea-NRF).

The competent authority of ‘International Cooperative Development Programs’ belongs to Ministry of Science and ICT. NRF works as the trustee operator of programs. 

To qualify as a “Young Overseas Researcher,” the candidate must satisfy the following: 

 - Korean Nationals: Currently residing overseas, acquired his/her Doctoral degree from a domestic/overseas university within the past five years (currently employed at an overseas organization)

 - Foreign National: Acquired his/her Doctoral degree from a domestic/overseas university within the past five years

First, an overseas researcher can negotiate the details pertaining to the KRF program in advance with a host researcher in Korea. Then, the overseas researcher can send relevant information (research plan, CV, etc.) to the host researcher in Korea, upon which the host researcher prepares a formal research plan and submits it via NRF’s online system (ernd.nrf.re.kr).

Once a prospective candidate is selected for the program, he/she must arrive in Korea and begin his/her research within three months.

No. The KRF program is not subject to provisions stipulated in Article 32 of the Regulations on Management, etc. of National Research and Development (which states: the number of R&D projects that can be simultaneously conducted by a researcher shall not exceed five, among which the number of R&D projects that can be simultaneously conducted as a principal investigator shall not exceed three).

The program requires each successful candidate to stay long-term in Korea (minimum three years, maximum five years). As such, it does not accept short-term applications.

The host researcher at a host research institution may apply to invite one “Young Overseas Researcher” within one particular research category. If, however, the host researcher is looking to execute research across multiple research categories, he/she may invite one “Young Overseas Researcher” for each category.

“Young Overseas Researchers” can participate in other research projects related to the main research project up to a research contribution level of 30%. In such a case, the host institution can subsidize incurred expenses as direct expenses. If the personnel cost of a “Young Overseas Researcher” calculated by the host institution exceeds the subsidy offered under the KRF program for personnel costs, the host institution can pay the excess amount (cost matching).

1) Overall research plan (include the need for a “Young Overseas Researcher” from the host institution’s perspective)

2) Core skills (e.g. technical capabilities, competencies, etc.) of the “Young Overseas Researcher” (prepared by the “Young Overseas Researcher”-Can be prepared in English)

3) Support system and budget details at the host institution

Apart from no. 2, in principle, all other information prepared by the host researcher in Korea must be written in Korean. If, however, the host researcher is a foreign national, all information may be written in English. 

For this year’s projects, NRF will select projects based on written evaluations (of submitted documents) only (no additional evaluations will be made based on presentations).

To be eligible for the KRF program, Korean nationals must be residing overseas and employed as a researcher by an overseas research institution (including corporations) when applying for the program (as of the KRF program’s final date of the application period). Candidate with a Doctoral degree from a Korean university can apply for the program as well. 

 (Type-2 candidates i.e. foreign nationals residing in Korea who have acquired their Doctoral degrees at a Korean university can apply for the KRF program.)

For Type-2 candidates, the KRF program provides funding for personnel costs, and host institutions may pay additional personnel costs using their budget assigned to other research expenses. Under the KRF program, the host institution bears all direct costs pertaining to their “Young Overseas Researcher” (e.g. research activity-related expenses, etc.). Moreover, for Type-2 candidates, the host institution is required to pay a minimum of 20% of the total personnel cost for their “Young Overseas Researcher.”

Personnel costs must comply with the calculation criteria used by the host institution. Meanwhile, the KRF program subsidizes up to KRW 12,000,000 per year for living expenses, offers a flat rate of KRW 5,000,000 as a grant to support host institutions. The program also offers up to KRW 5,000,000 for other expenses (reimbursement of actual expenses only). (※ Refer to pages 4 and 5 of the Program Guideline)

The NRF currently offers it calls its “Personnel Matching Service” to connect host researchers in Korea with foreign researchers looking to work in Korea. (Refer to the “Programs” page at the official NRF website) 

 ※ NRF expects to launch its online Personnel Matching System within the year

At present, most applications are made through personal networks (established at international forums, symposiums, etc.). However, NRF is aware that this may inhibit the widespread use of the KRF program. As such, it is looking to develop an online “Personnel Matching Platform” system. More specifically, NRF is aiming to create a platform upon which facilitates a two-way flow of information between foreign researchers seeking work in Korea and host institutions searching for overseas researchers. Development of the system, however, has just started recently. As such, prospective “Young Overseas Researchers” for the KRF program should send their CVs to NRF. Upon confirming the information, NRF updates its “Matching Candidate List,” then uploads it onto its official website. 

 (A Korean PI can contact a prospective “Young Overseas Researcher” personally, or request NRF to provide a CV)

If a “Young Overseas Researcher” selected for the KRF program is accompanied by his/her child/children attending kindergarten (age between three and five), the KRF program subsidizes part of the kindergarten tuition fees or daycare center costs.

 (※ Refer to page 5 of the Program Guideline)

Living expenses cover housing expenses incurred for residential purposes only (KRF program does not support administrative fees or other utilities). Meanwhile, other expenses cover accident and illness insurance premiums, airfares, moving expenses, business trip expenses, expenses incurred from attending domestic academic society meetings, Korean language tuitions, etc.

Scientists currently employed on a full-time basis by a research institution in Korea do not fit the objective and scope of this program, which intends to bring talented scientists overseas into Korea. As such, full-time scientists in Korea cannot apply for the Brain Pool program. However, scientists employed on a limited-term contractual basis, dispatched from another organization, or working under a temporary employment arrangement at a research institution in Korea can apply for the program.

Given the objectives of the program, each Brain Pool Fellow is required to participate in research and development activities at an institution located in Korea. As such, each Brain Pool Fellow must commence his/her research activities in Korea. 

 (※ i.e. In principle, each Brain Pool Fellow must commence research activities after his/her arrival in Korea)

If the foreign national in question is a full-time employee at a research institution in Korea, and holds the title of an Assistant Professor, Senior Researcher, Director of a research institute (corporate research institute), or above, he/she can apply as a host researcher. In principle, all applications must be prepared in Korean. However, sections that require communication with the Brain Pool Fellow (e.g. research subject, etc.) may be written in English.

Foreign nationals and overseas Koreans (with foreign citizenship) currently residing in Korea can apply for the Brain Pool program. As for Korean scientists, the program is open exclusively to candidates currently residing overseas. Regardless of nationality, each candidate must have at least five years of research and development experience at an overseas institution (outside of Korea).

This program supports R&D activities. As such, it does not support overseas scientists invited exclusively for teaching purposes. A Brain Pool Fellow, however, may teach up to one course as part of his/her employment arrangement, or donate his/her own time and resources to teach voluntarily.

If a university or research institute is expected to serve as the host institution, any candidate without a Doctoral degree is ineligible for the Brain Pool program. However, when a corporate research institution is expected to serve as the host institution, a candidate may be eligible for the program. 

 (※ In such a case, the prospective candidate must have at least five years of on-site research and technology development experience at an overseas corporation)

Any scientist without at least five years of research and development experience at an overseas institution after acquiring his/her Doctoral degree will be ruled ineligible during the screening period. (※ Excluding applications involving a corporate research institution as a host institution)

The Brain Pool program requires Brain Pool Fellows to carry out joint research in Korea. As such, it does not support joint research initiatives executed at an overseas institution. Moreover, if a Brain Pool Fellow travels overseas on business too frequently (more than 10% of his/her Fellowship period), NRF may file claims to recoup the subsidies it offered to that particular Brain Pool Fellow. (※ NRF will recoup the sum amount of research grant subsidies incurred above the 10% threshold)

The host researcher must submit all program application forms and reports (arrival, change of utilization plans, final report, etc.) relevant to the program.

The Brain Pool program does not offer any support for overhead costs for the host institution.

No. The Brain Pool program is not subject to provisions stipulated in Article 32 of the Regulations on Management, etc. of National Research and Development (which states: the number of R&D projects that can be simultaneously conducted by a researcher shall not exceed five, among which the number of R&D projects that can be simultaneously conducted as a principal investigator shall not exceed three).

The Brain Pool program does not use the EZbaro system or issue debit/credit cards to cover research-related expenses. To pay personnel expenses, the host institution can wire transfer a flat rate salary each month to the bank account of each Brain Pool Fellow. For invitation expenses, the host institution can reimburse each Brain Pool Fellow for the actual expenses he/she spent upon confirming the required receipts and other proof of payment.

An application will be prioritized if it is linked to a project that is currently in progress only.

Grants offered for each region under the Brain Pool program are capped depending on the duration of the grant.

 - Invitational expenses (airfare, moving expenses, education subsidies for children (tuition), insurance premiums, etc.): Maximum KRW 17,600,000 (actual expenses only)

※ The Brain Pool program will support the airfare, insurance premiums, moving expenses of each Brain Pool Fellow up to the maximum amount for each criterion. Any sum amount over the cap must be paid by the host institution.

 - Airfare and insurance premiums: Host institution reimburses each Brain Pool Fellow for actual expenses in compliance with the following criteria:

(Unit: KRW 1,000)

 ※ Airfare: If the duration of the grant is 12 months or longer, the Brain Pool program will reimburse the round-trip airfare for the Brain Pool Fellow and one accompanying family member (one-off reimbursement). 

 ※ Accident and illness insurance premiums: Host research institution must purchase insurance from an insurance company for the Brain Pool Fellow.

The Brain Pool program requires prospective candidates for the program to submit their pay stubs (pay slips) issued by their home institutions over the past year. This is to make sure the program matches the annual salary Brain Pool Fellows received at their home institutions.

The Brain Pool program is open to candidates with Doctoral degrees from Korean universities. However, the prospective candidate must be a foreign national or an overseas Korean scientist with at least five years of on-site R&D experience at an overseas institution upon acquiring his/her Doctoral degree. If the prospective candidate is a Korean national, he/she must be residing overseas as of the Brain Pool program’s final date of the application period (must be employed by an overseas institution).

Each host institution uses different contract for invited Brain Pool Fellows. Depending on the regulations of each host institution, Brain Pool Fellows can be classified as visiting researchers, or as participating researchers with their employment status retained at their home institutions.