Korea Foundation for Women i n Science, Engineering and Technology

• Announces 2026 Key Initiatives to mark the UN's 'International Day of Women and Girls in Science' (Feb 11).
• Expands childcare support and introduces new grants to help researchers balance career and family.
• Launches specialized training in AI and semiconductors to help women re-enter emerging tech industries.

The Korea Foundation for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology (WISET, President Aree Moon) announced its "2026 Key Initiatives" in celebration of the UN's International Day of Women and Girls in Science*. The new initiatives aim to empower women in STEM and address South Korea's growing shortage of tech professionals.

* ‘The International Day of Women and Girls in Science’ was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2015 to ensure full and equal access to and participation in science for women and girls.

The 2026 blueprint focuses on three core pillars: ① Fostering Career Growth, ② Building AI and New Tech Capabilities, and ③ Nurturing Regional and Future Talent. Specifically, WISET is directing its resources toward preventing career breaks and channeling female talent into high-growth sectors. This approach directly tackles the acute shortage of tech professionals driven by demographic shifts, including a low birth rate and an aging population.

 1) Work-Life Balance: Supporting the Return to Research

To ensure a stable return to the field after childcare leave, WISET is thoroughly upgrading its support systems.

The 'Emergency Care Voucher', which helps cover childcare costs, will expand from a limited pilot to a nationwide initiative. It will now support 100 STEM graduate students and non-tenured researchers nationwide. Eligible researchers can receive up to KRW 4 million (KRW 400,000 per month for 10 months).

The 'Research Grant for Childcare' supports researchers whose projects were delayed by maternity or parental leave. WISET has doubled the number of recipients to 20, providing up to KRW 30 million each. A new 'seed grant' has also been added to help researchers transition smoothly back to the lab. To foster a family-friendly culture across the industry, WISET will also subsidize substitute personnel costs for 233 male and female researchers on parental leave and provide 'Inclusive Research Culture Consulting' to 10 institutions.

 2) Empowering Women with AI Capabilities

WISET is expanding its AI capacity-building and practical training programs to ensure women in STEM are ready for the AI-driven future.

A new 'AI Career Development Service' will launch on WISET's online platform, W-Bridge, using AI to accurately diagnose individual capabilities and provide personalized career consulting. Furthermore, WISET will run five specialized courses—including AI Convergence Data Analysis, AI Robot System Engineering, and Generative AI Instruction—to train 1,100 experts. By partnering with global tech leaders and top universities, WISET ensures these curricula deliver the exact skills that today's industries demand.

 3) Career Return: Connecting Talent with Emerging Sectors

WISET is actively helping women with STEM backgrounds restart their careers after a break. Alongside the ongoing 'Women in STEM R&D Career Return Support Program' (targeting 304 women), WISET will launch a new 'Career Diversification Training' course for 150 women. This program helps them pivot into fast-growing industries like semiconductors (partnering with Onsemi) and intellectual property (partnering with KISTA).

 4) Regional & Future Talent: Vitalizing Local R&D Ecosystems

WISET is increasing the budget for its Regional STEM Female Talent Cultivation Program (R-WeSET 2.0) to KRW 2 billion to support female scientists outside the capital area. By working closely with regional universities, WISET will introduce new STEM programs to inspire primary and secondary female students. To cultivate the next generation of innovators, WISET will fund STEM Research Team Projects (150 engineering teams) and mentoring for 2,000 students. Additionally, WISET will collaborate with regional Techno Parks (TP) to increase the use of substitute personnel in local R&D sectors.

"As we mark the UN's International Day of Women and Girls in Science, it is clear that empowering female scientists has become a critical global agenda," said Aree Moon, President of WISET. "For South Korea to maintain its technological edge, we simply cannot afford to leave any talent behind. By clearing the everyday hurdles researchers face with highly tailored support, we will build an inclusive ecosystem where every scientist can thrive and reach their full potential."

[Appendix: 2026 WISET Key Initiatives Q&A]

Q1. How exactly has the eligibility for the 'Emergency Care Voucher' changed?

A1. Previously limited to four major institutes, the voucher is now available to male and female STEM graduate students and non-tenured researchers nationwide. The eligible age limit for children has also been raised from under 8 to under 12, extending this support to researchers with elementary school-aged children.

Q2. Are there any changes to the Care Voucher benefits?

A2. Yes, the maximum funding has increased to KRW 4 million (10 months) per year. Also, selection is now based on an evaluation of urgent caregiving needs rather than a first-come, first-served basis.

Q3. Is there a co-payment requirement for the Care Voucher?

A3. Graduate students receive 100% coverage. Non-tenured researchers are responsible for a 50% co-payment.

Q4. When can researchers apply for the Return Grant?

A4. To prevent funding gaps, researchers can now apply up to 6 months before their expected return date. We have also doubled the number of supported projects to 20 this year.

Q5. How does the new 'Career Diversification Training' differ from existing programs?

A5. While existing programs focus on helping women return to their original fields, this new training supports a direct 'job transition' into high-demand, new-growth industries such as semiconductors and patent strategy. Our goal is to strategically place researchers with strong STEM foundations into promising industries where their skills are most needed.

Q6. Aside from support programs, what policy changes are being made for women in STEM?

A6. We are developing a framework to introduce a 'Target Quota System for Leadership Roles' and plan to set specific annual goals to increase female representation in decision-making positions. Additionally, we will accelerate the publication of our statistical reports to enhance their practical use in shaping policies.

Note: Please find the attached infographic for a visual summary of our 2026 key initiatives (Available in Korean).