Research Fund Execution
Three Key Principles for Research Fund Execution
Execute Funds in
Accordance with the
Purpose of the Project
- Research and development funds must be used only for the purpose of carrying out the relevant project.
- Funds must be executed within the total amount allocated for each budget item. If changes to the plan are required, approval from the Research and Business Development Foundation or the relevant funding agency is required.
Use a Research Fund
Card or Bank Transfer
- All expenditures must be made using a research fund card or bank transfer.
- Cash payments are not recognized in principle.
Prepare and Retain
Supporting Documents
- Objective supporting documents, such as card receipts and tax invoices, must be prepared.
- Supporting documents must be retained for five years after the completion of the project.
*Execution before or after the agreement period, cash payments, or execution without supporting documents will all be treated as improper execution.
Personnel Expenses
- Employees of the affiliated institution who are enrolled in the four major social insurance programs
- Monthly allocation rate applies
- Researchers affiliated with other institutions who are enrolled in the four major social insurance programs
- Student researchers affiliated with other universities
- Freelancers or individual business owners contracted to participate in the project
- Research support personnel affiliated with the research department of a non-profit corporation
- Only personnel expenses may be allocated and executed
- Research activity expenses and research allowances cannot be allocated
Total Personnel Expense Allocation Rate =
Personnel Expense Allocation Rate + Student Personnel Expense Payment Rate
+ Unpaid Personnel Expense Allocation Rate
As a result, the monthly total
cannot exceed 100%
Student Personnel Expenses
- Prepared every six months at the beginning of each semester
- Signed by the student, Principal Investigator, and head of institution
- Based on the account-level payment rate stated in the Research Participation Agreement
- Student personnel expenses cannot be allocated or paid to postdoctoral researchers
- Executed after the full amount of student personnel expenses is transferred in a lump sum
Designation
- Misuse rate exceeding 2%
- Institutional average execution rate below 50%
Research Facilities, Equipment, and Materials Expenses
Research Facilities and Equipment Expenses
-
KRW 100 million or more
Prior approval from the Research Equipment Budget Review Committee is required
-
KRW 30 million or more
Prior confirmation through ZEUS is required to determine whether the equipment is registered for shared use
-
Less than KRW 30 million
ZEUS confirmation is recommended, even for equipment that can be used jointly
* Purchase, installation, or lease, including inspection completion, must be completed at least two months before the project end date.
Research Materials Expenses
-
Purchase of research materials
Costs for purchasing reagents and materials, including related incidental expenses
-
Fabrication of research materials
Costs for fabricating test products or test facilities, whether conducted internally or externally
-
Research project management expenses
Operating expenses for management systems required to conduct the project, excluding institution-wide IT system expenses
- * Costs for reagents and materials purchased between participating institutions are not recognized.
- * Materials purchased after the project end date are also not recognized.
Student Personnel Expenses
Intellectual Property Creation Activity Expenses
Expenses for technology, patent, and standards information research and analysis, as well as the establishment of patent acquisition strategies.
External Technical Service Expenses
Expenses for technology introduction, expert consulting, and R&D service utilization.
These expenses may be used within 40% of direct costs.
Meeting Expenses
Meal expenses for research-related meetings and seminars are allowed only when
① External participants are present.
② Prior internal approval has been obtained.
Domestic and Overseas Travel Expenses
Expenses for travel conducted for the purpose of carrying out the research project.
Duplicate execution of weekday lunch expenses and meal expenses for meetings during business trips, when meals are already included in travel expenses, is not allowed.
Software Usage Expenses
Expenses for the purchase, installation, lease, loan for use, or use of software, as well as database and network usage fees.
Contracts must be completed at least two months before the project end date.
Laboratory Operation Expenses / Research Personnel Support Expenses
Expenses for office equipment and supplies, consumable expenses, education and training expenses, conference participation fees, overtime meal expenses, and other related costs.
Items unrelated to the project, such as TVs, exercise equipment, and flowerpots, are not recognized.
Research Allowance
Guidelines for Research Allowance
-
Research Allowance May Be Allocated Within 20% Of Personnel Expenses, Taking Into Account The Characteristics Of The Project And Research Outcomes.
* This includes in-kind contributions allocated as personnel expenses, unpaid personnel expenses, and student personnel expenses. However, personnel expenses for research support personnel in the research department are excluded.
- Full Payment Of Research Allowance Is Allowed Only When The Direct Cost Execution Rate Is 80% Or Higher.
-
If Two Or More Researchers Participate In The Project, More Than 70% Of The Total Research Allowance Cannot Be Paid To A Single Participating Researcher.
* If only the Principal Investigator participates throughout the entire R&D period, or the relevant phase if the project is divided into phases, 100% payment may be allowed.
-
Research Allowance Is Not Recognized If There Is No Contribution Evaluation Based On Reasonable Criteria.
* All participating researchers in each project phase must be evaluated, including those who left the project before completion.