SKKU has been selected for the 2026 Brain Pool+ Institutional Recruitment Program, securing KRW 13.5 billion in government funding over the next five years to strengthen its global research capabilities.

Supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the National Research Foundation of Korea, the Brain Pool+ program enables universities to strategically recruit outstanding international scientists and provide comprehensive support for their long-term research activities in Korea. Funding can be used for researcher salaries, relocation and living expenses, as well as advanced research equipment and infrastructure.

The initiative will focus on key national strategic technology areas, including next-generation energy, biomedical science, nanotechnology, and quantum materials. Five major research and international collaboration institutes at SKKU will work together: the Sungkyunkwan Advanced Institute of Nanotechnology (SAINT), BICS, NEM, SGRC, and PBRC.

The program is led by SKKU President Yoo Ji-beom as principal investigator, while Professor Il Jeon of SAINT, who also serves as Deputy Vice President for International Affairs and Director of the Sungkyun Global Research Center (SGRC), takes a leading role in the strategic planning and operation of the initiative.

Through Brain Pool+, SKKU aims to establish a sustainable platform for attracting distinguished scholars, established researchers, and emerging scientific talent from around the world. By creating an environment that supports long-term research and interdisciplinary collaboration, the university seeks to accelerate its development as a globally competitive research institution.