International Joint Research Program

International Joint Research

Supports joint international energy projects that connect Korean institutions with global research partners.

The Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (KETEP) issues annual competitive grants for international joint research enabling Korean institutions to co-develop energy technology with foreign partners. KETEP operates under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE), was established in 2009 under Article 13 of Korea's Energy Act, and managed approximately USD $826 million in energy R&D in 2025. The International Joint Research program focuses on acquiring advanced technologies through partnerships with leading research institutions abroad and on co-developing carbon-neutrality energy technologies. KETEP's bilateral cooperation activities span institutions and governments in the Americas, Europe — including an active program with the Czech Republic — and Asia, including China. KETEP operates at least one overseas Energy Cooperation Center in the United States, providing a point of contact for North American institutions seeking Korean partnerships. Korea also hosts the Mission Innovation Secretariat and collaborates with the World Bank and the Green Climate Fund through its multilateral track.

A Korean lead institution is required for all submissions; foreign organizations participate as co-investigators and cannot apply as sole applicants. Applications are submitted through the IRIS portal. Award amounts in Korean Won, call deadlines, match-funding expectations, and evaluation criteria are specified in annual solicitation documents. The multilateral track through the Mission Innovation Secretariat expands co-funding possibilities beyond bilateral government agreements. KETEP's total annual R&D budget of approximately USD $826 million provides scale context, though the international program's specific annual allocation is not disclosed in current source material.

Non-Korean organizations should approach KETEP's international cooperation office or the U.S. Energy Cooperation Center to identify active call topics and willing Korean co-applicants before submitting. Topics aligned with carbon-neutrality technology — including hydrogen, renewables, CCUS, and smart grid — have appeared in bilateral co-funded calls. The Czech Republic and U.S. bilateral tracks are the most documented active pathways. Call announcements are released on the KETEP website and the IRIS portal on an annual cadence tied to the Korean government fiscal year.