Jeju, Yeungnam, Sejong and Chung-Ang Universities Preselected for G-LAMP, with KRW 5 Billion Annually for Each Project

Jeju National University, Yeungnam University, Sejong University and Chung-Ang University have been preliminarily selected for new funding under the 2026 University Basic Research Institute Support Program (G-LAMP). Subject to final selection and agreements, each university project will receive about KRW 5 billion a year for up to five years (3+2 years) to build research hubs in climate, quantum technology, healthcare and ultra-low-power electronics.

The Ministry of Education and the National Research Foundation of Korea announced the results on July 31. Jeju National University and Yeungnam University were selected outside the Seoul metropolitan area, while Sejong University and Chung-Ang University were selected in the capital region. The four proposals aim to strengthen research-institute management and pursue large-scale interdisciplinary research led by early-career faculty and postdoctoral researchers.

From Jeju climate research to quantum technology and healthcare

Two universities were selected in electrical, electronic and communications engineering, but their research directions differ. Yeungnam University combines biosignal measurement, medical devices and disease prediction in one platform. Chung-Ang University applies the human nervous system's low-power operating principles to semiconductor and robotics technology. Sejong University covers the full quantum-technology cycle, while Jeju National University focuses on environmental change in Jeju, which is on the front line of the climate crisis.

Funding reviewed once after three years

The funding period is divided into an initial three years and an additional two years. Progress and outcomes will be assessed in the third year, after which support for the remaining two years and the budget level will be determined. The funding is not limited to grants for individual researchers; it will also support university systems for managing research institutes and enabling collaboration across disciplines.

The program began with eight universities in 2023. Six universities were added in each of 2024 and 2025. With four more this year, the total will reach 24. The Ministry of Education said Jeju National University's inclusion means that all of Korea's regional flagship national universities now participate in G-LAMP.

This year's selection also shows that G-LAMP's research scope is expanding into engineering applications. Two of the four projects focus on electrical, electronic and communications engineering, and the selected proposals include areas that link basic research with industrial applications, such as quantum-AI and electronic bio-healthcare.

Agreements in August, projects begin in September

The announcement is a preliminary selection, not a final decision. The Ministry of Education will accept objections for 10 days after notification, finalize the recipients, review each university's implementation plan in August and then sign agreements. The projects are scheduled to begin in September.

The announcement does not mean that graduate admissions or postdoctoral recruitment will begin immediately. Actual research opportunities should be checked in graduate-school and researcher recruitment notices issued by the universities and project teams after the agreements are signed. The four universities have, however, disclosed sufficiently specific research themes to help researchers in climate, quantum technology, bioelectronics and low-power semiconductors see which laboratories and projects may expand.

Sources

The selected universities, funding level and schedule were checked against the Ministry of Education's 2026 G-LAMP preliminary selection results and the attached implementation plan. The program period and selection process were also checked against the 2026 call for new G-LAMP projects.