NRF to Invest 299.3 Billion Won in 2026 Humanities and Social Sciences Academic Research

Support for 7,377 Projects
Expanded Incentives for Master's and Doctoral Students
Strengthened Group Research Initiatives

The National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) will invest a total of 299.3 billion won in the 2026 Humanities and Social Sciences Academic Research Support Project, supporting 7,377 projects in total. This represents an increase of approximately 9.8% compared to the previous year. The foundation aims to significantly strengthen the creation of a stable research environment for the next generation of scholars and to greatly enhance group research centered on university research institutes.

The foundation announced that it will hold a briefing session to share the main details of the “2026 Humanities and Social Sciences Academic Research Support Project Comprehensive Plan.” The briefing will be held for researchers and university officials on January 27 at the NRF headquarters in Daejeon and on January 29 at Ewha Womans University in Seoul. The event will provide information on the key directions for 2026, new project calls, and major improvements for each program. On-site Q&A booths will also be available.

2026 Humanities and Social Sciences Academic Research Support Project Briefing Session. Provided by National Research Foundation of Korea

The total budget for the 2026 Humanities and Social Sciences Academic Research Support Project is 299.3 billion won, supporting a total of 7,377 projects (including approximately 3,085 new projects). The foundation has identified the following as its core initiatives: ▲Strengthening support for the next generation of scholars ▲Expanding open research innovation platforms centered on university research institutes ▲Improving researcher-friendly systems and promoting the dissemination of research outcomes.

First, in terms of supporting the next generation of scholars, research incentives for both master's and doctoral students will be expanded. A new “Global Research” program will also be introduced to support postdoctoral overseas training, aiming to enhance the international competitiveness of doctoral-level researchers.

Support for university research institutes will be further strengthened. The budgets for group research support, such as the Humanities Korea (HK) 3.0 and Global Humanities and Social Sciences Convergence Research programs, will be expanded. In addition, a new “University Basic Research Institute” support program will be launched to foster regional humanities and social sciences research hubs, focusing on key national universities. Under this program, three universities will be selected to receive a total of 12 billion won (4 billion won per project per year).

Improvements to researcher-friendly systems will also be pursued. The length of research activity plans will be streamlined, and eligibility requirements will be relaxed so that those expecting to obtain a doctoral degree before the project start date can also apply. Furthermore, a “Next-Generation Academic Research Portal” will be established for full-cycle management of humanities and social sciences R&D, and AI-based research administration support services are being prepared.

Kim Myeonjoong, Director General of Humanities and Social Sciences Research at the National Research Foundation of Korea, stated, “This briefing session is intended to help researchers better understand and utilize the 2026 Humanities and Social Sciences Academic Research Support Project. It will be an opportunity not only to acquire the necessary know-how for applying for research support, but also to identify ‘know-where’ and ‘know-who’-where to connect and with whom.”

The schedule and participation details for the briefing session can be found in the project announcement on the foundation’s website. After the event, a replay service will also be provided through the website and the official YouTube channel.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.