More Concerned About the Post-PBS Era... 82% of GRI Researchers Say, "Research Funding Autonomy Should Be Expanded"

87% in survey of 673 support greater participation in policymaking... also call for governance reform
Opposition prevails to National Science AI Research Center and centralized administration... views diverge from government’s reform plans

More than 8 in 10 employees at government-funded research institutes (GRIs) said they want stable research funding and greater research autonomy. While expectations for improved research conditions have risen since the abolition of the Project-Based System (PBS), negative views prevailed on the government’s plans to reorganize research groups and administrative systems. The results appear to reflect concerns that only the management system will change without expanding the autonomy of researchers in the field.

The Public Science and Technology Research Labor Union released on October 14 the results of a survey of 673 employees at science and technology GRIs. The survey was conducted online from October 6 to 8, with participation on a voluntary basis.

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A total of 81.9% of respondents (551 people) supported providing GRIs with stable funding and expanding the system under which institutes independently decide on research topics and how to use their budgets. Only 13.5% (91 people) opposed the proposal. Meanwhile, 60.6% (408 people) opposed strengthening approval requirements and restrictions on securing external research projects after the abolition of the PBS.

The results suggest that researchers are seeking not merely the abolition of the PBS, but also stable research funding and the right to choose their research. A total of 63.9% (430 people) also said the number of positions at GRIs should be increased by at least 10%.

Calls for greater research autonomy... Opposition to government-led restructuring

Calls for greater participation by researchers in policymaking were even stronger. The largest share of respondents among all survey questions, 87.2% (587 people), said representatives of GRI heads should be guaranteed seats on key committees that decide national research and development (R&D) policies and budgets.

A total of 81.3% (547 people) supported restructuring the GRI operating system to enable coordination of research needs and budgets across government ministries, while 83.1% (559 people) supported introducing a labor director system at the National Research Council of Science and Technology (NST).

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By contrast, 62.9% (423 people) said that having the NST handle common administrative tasks for GRIs, such as audits and recruitment, would not help reduce their administrative burden.

A total of 67.6% (455 people) also opposed establishing a National Science AI Research Center, where the NST would conduct artificial intelligence (AI) research with its own research staff. This may reflect concerns about overlapping roles with existing GRIs or the expansion of an NST-centered organizational structure.

There was also significant dissatisfaction with compensation. A total of 84.4% (568 people) said the 3.9% pay raise for GRI employees in 2027 was insufficient. In addition, 71.0% said all or part of funds for research allowances and performance-based incentives for research and development should be used to raise base salaries.

The Public Science and Technology Research Labor Union said, "Expanding core funding and reforming governance are part of the same task," and called on the government to expand research and budget autonomy at GRIs and guarantee their participation in policymaking. It also said the government should reconsider in full the specialization of common administrative functions and the establishment of the National Science AI Research Center.

However, the survey was conducted online by the union on a voluntary basis, so the views of the 673 respondents cannot be considered representative of all GRI employees. The published survey overview also did not include a breakdown of responses by occupational group, such as research and administrative staff.

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