– As the host of APEC 2025, Korea invites over 100 scientists to Korea to strengthen research cooperation network
– Young researchers from Peru’s prestigious Pontifical Catholic University of Peru will travel 30 hours to Korea for exchange programs
With Korea hosting the 2025 Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Ministry of Science and ICT (“MSIT”; Minister Yoo Sang-im) announced that it will launch the APEC Scientist Invitation Program to Korea 2025 to strengthen exchanges between Korean scientists and scientists from other APEC Member Economies.
The Invitation Program is part of the APEC Scientist Exchange Initiative*, a key initiative being promoted by the MSIT within the APEC framework. Its goal is to provide APEC scientists with opportunities to experience Korea’s research environment and policies, plan joint research projects with Korean scientists, and lay the groundwork for enhanced exchanges with Korea.
* The APEC Scientist Exchange Initiative, aimed at enhancing R&D innovation capabilities within the APEC region, simplifies visa issuance and immigration procedures for short-term travels of APEC scientists to minimize inconvenience, while establishing exchange programs among APEC scientists to lay the groundwork for enhanced scientific collaboration.
The invitation program will facilitate cross-border scientific exchanges from a mobility perspective by simplifying visa issuance and immigration procedures for APEC scientists participating in the program.
The program consists of two types: 1) a 10-day Capacity Building Program where participants are paired with Korean researchers for intensive mentor-mentee activities to develop a future research project, and 2) an Under 90 days Training Program where participants conduct research in Korean laboratories. Eligible participants are Ph.D. or Master’s degree holders with at least three years of experience, from APEC Member Economies that support the APEC Scientist Exchange Initiative; approximately 100 scientists from APEC Member Economies are expected to participate.
The Invitation Program, which will last from May to July, will start with the 10-day program on physics, taking place from May 26 to June 6. A total of 21 participants―including researchers and professors from national research institutions in Malaysia, Peru, and Thailand―are taking part. The diverse participant pool reflects strong interest in collaboration with Korea. Notably, a young researcher from a prestigious university in Peru―one of the APEC member economies geographically farthest from Korea―is among the attendees.
The program features sessions on science and technology policy exchange, lectures, and mentor-mentee activities designed to explore innovative research topics. Participants will also visit the IBS Center for Quantum Nanoscience at Ewha Womans University to engage in a variety of cultural experiences. Through this program, participants will have the opportunity to design joint research projects with Korean researchers and provide feedback on talent exchange initiatives and streamlined immigration and visa issuance procedures.
Director-General Hwang Sung-hoon of the International Cooperation Bureau at the MSIT said, “We are hoping that the Invitation Program will serve as a valuable platform for strengthening S&T capabilities through collaboration among scientists in the APEC region.” He added, “We will continue our efforts to leverage talent and establish a cooperative research framework that promotes inclusive development across the APEC region.”
The MSIT plans to expand the second part of the Invitation Program, which takes place in June and July, to include new participating Member Economies such as Indonesia and the Philippines, in addition to the original Member Economies. The scope of the program will also be diversified to cover chemistry, life sciences, and earth sciences.