Eliminating Barriers in University Research Equipment... Expanding Shared Use of Laboratory Equipment

Ministry of Education and Ministry of Science and ICT to Promote Opening of University Research Infrastructure
100 Core Research Support Centers to Be Fostered by 2030
Addressing Redundant Purchases and Idle Equipment
Laying the Foundation

The government will change the university research equipment management system, which has been operated primarily at the level of individual professors' laboratories, to a university-wide shared utilization system. The aim is to convert expensive equipment, previously scattered across individual labs, into shared assets to reduce redundant investment and enhance the research capabilities of regional universities.

The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Science and ICT reported these plans in the 'Measures to Promote Shared Utilization of University Research Facilities and Equipment' at the 9th Science and Technology Ministers' Meeting held on May 29, 2026.

The government plans to change the university research equipment management system, which was centered on individual professors' laboratories, into a university-wide shared utilization system. Reference photo to aid understanding of the article. Photo by The Asia Business Daily Database

Currently, there are 93,480 pieces of research equipment registered in the National Equipment Utilization System (ZEUS). Of these, universities own 22,335 items, accounting for 24% of the total. As for research facilities, 246 out of a national total of 622 have been established at universities.

However, since a considerable portion of research equipment has been introduced and operated at the level of individual professors' laboratories, there have been ongoing issues of redundant purchases of similar equipment even within the same university, and high-cost equipment being underutilized as it remains tied to specific laboratories. In fact, it was found that at a regional university, a semiconductor analysis instrument worth 1.8 billion won has remained idle for several years due to a lack of maintenance budget.

The government plans to foster university-based core facilities and shared experimental labs as key hubs for shared equipment utilization, and to establish an integrated university-level management system covering everything from equipment registration to operation, acquisition, and maintenance.

In particular, moving away from supporting individual projects, the government will introduce a 'block funding' system that allocates budgets collectively to shared utilization hubs, allowing universities to independently manage research equipment and specialized personnel.

Fostering 100 Shared Research Equipment Hubs

The government will expand the current 59 core research support centers nationwide to around 100 by 2030. It will also promote the development of specialized centers linked to regional strategic industries such as aerospace, semiconductors, and advanced mobility.

Furthermore, over 40% of future selected projects will be allocated to centers located in regional areas, thereby encouraging the expansion of research infrastructure and strengthening research capabilities at local universities.

In the mid- to long-term, the plan is to open the research facilities and equipment of hub universities to neighboring universities, thereby reducing regional disparities in research equipment and facilitating inter-university joint research.

The government plans to change the management system of university research equipment, which has operated centered on individual professors' laboratories, to a system of shared use at the university level. Reference photo to aid understanding of the article. The Asia Business Daily DB

Establishing a System for Equipment Specialists... Comprehensive Survey of Idle Equipment

Support for specialized personnel managing research equipment will also be strengthened. Currently, university research facilities have an average of 5.3 specialists managing more than six pieces of equipment per facility. The government plans to legally define the role of equipment specialists and establish a job category and grading system to enhance their expertise.

In addition, a standard will be established to allow for the reasonable transfer of research equipment if the principal investigator moves to another university. This measure takes into account that there have been frequent conflicts between universities regarding equipment ownership.

Starting in 2027, the government will conduct a comprehensive survey of university research equipment to assess the current status of idle and underutilized equipment, with a plan to increase utilization by incorporating such equipment into the shared utilization system.

The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Science and ICT will operate a joint consultative body to promote related projects and system reforms, and will work to establish an ecosystem for the open sharing of university research infrastructure.

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