From December 16th to January 15th next year, submissions will be accepted.
The Ministry of Science and ICT (Vice Prime Minister and Minister Bae Kyung-hoon, hereinafter referred to as the Ministry of Science and ICT) announced that it would hold the ‘Korean-style Moonshot Project Public Contest’ from December 16th to January 15th, 2026, to discover challenging research and development (R&D) ideas that could change the future of Korea.
‘Moonshot’ is a term originating from NASA’s Apollo Moon exploration project in 1969, derived from an instance where they embarked on a challenge that seemed technically impossible at that time. Today, it is used to symbolize innovative and bold objectives.
This contest is being promoted as part of the new government’s national agenda, the ‘Korean-style Moonshot Project.’ The Ministry of Science and ICT is pursuing R&D projects that clearly set ambitious missions to foster future strategic technologies and solve national challenges.
Projects are being planned in various fields, including AI-based drug development, clean energy, humanoid robots, rare earth reduction technology, and next-generation memory semiconductors.
The contest is designed to allow not only experts but also the general public to participate by proposing creative ideas. The topics for submission are in the fields of national strategic technologies and challenging and innovative research and development ideas aimed at solving national and social challenges. Any Korean citizen can participate, and submissions can be differentiated into general public and researcher types.
The contest categories include ten major technology areas and other free topics: advanced life sciences (advanced bio), AI humanoid robots, quantum, space aviation, semiconductors, display, secondary batteries, materials and nanotechnology, future energy, and more. The general public type can easily participate focusing on problem definition and ideas, while the researcher type can offer proposals at a professional R&D level.
Submissions will be accepted over 30 days from December 16th to January 15th, 2026, via the exclusive contest website. An expert evaluation panel will assess submissions based on criteria such as the necessity of resolving national issues, whether a challenging mission has been established, and the economic and social ripple effects.
Awards will be held in March 2026. The top prize (one for general public, one for researchers) will receive the Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT Award and a prize of 3 million won. The Excellence Award (two for general public, two for researchers) will receive the President of the National Research Foundation Award and a prize of 1 million won. The total prize money amounts to 10 million won.
First Vice Minister Koo Hyuk-chae from the Ministry of Science and ICT stated, “The Korean-style Moonshot Project aims for high-risk, high-reward R&D that could potentially change the nation’s future if successful, despite the high likelihood of failure,” and added, “The challenging and creative ideas from citizens will be an important key to fostering future strategic technologies and solving national challenges.”
