Natural Resources and CCUS R&D Program

Natural Resources and CCUS R&D

Funds Korean initiatives advancing natural resource efficiency and carbon capture, utilization, and storage pathways.

The Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (KETEP) issues annual competitive R&D grants for natural resources and carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technology under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE). KETEP, established in 2009 and managing approximately USD $826 million in energy R&D in 2025, administers this program as one of its six core areas. The program covers three sub-areas. Resource development funds petroleum and gas exploration technology alongside critical mineral recovery, with titanium (Ti), molybdenum (Mo), lithium (Li), and nickel (Ni) explicitly identified as target minerals. Resource recycling covers lithium, cobalt, and rare earth element (REE) recovery from spent batteries and fuel cells, as well as remanufacturing processes. The CCUS sub-area funds capture, storage, and transport technology; domestic pilot CO2 storage site development; and integrated carbon capture and utilization for the refining and steel industries.

Korean universities, research institutes, and for-profit companies are the eligible applicant pool. Applications are submitted through the IRIS portal. Award amounts in Korean Won, submission deadlines, match-funding requirements, and evaluation rubrics are specified in individual annual solicitation documents. The critical minerals track carries particular strategic importance given Korea's dependence on imported battery materials and the national priority placed on securing lithium and rare earth supply chains. The CCUS track targeting refining and steel aligns with Korea's decarbonization obligations for hard-to-abate industrial sectors.

Organizations working on battery recycling hydrometallurgy, direct lithium extraction, or CO2 mineralization for industrial applications are well-positioned for this program. The domestic pilot storage site track is relevant for geological survey firms and engineering companies with subsurface characterization expertise. Companies developing integrated CCU processes for refinery off-gases also fit the explicit scope. Non-Korean applicants must partner with a registered Korean lead institution to access the IRIS system. Annual call releases are announced on the KETEP website and through the IRIS portal.