Survey of 673 workers at government-funded research institutes conducted by science and technology research union

Researchers at a government-funded science and technology research institute conduct R&D work. [Herald DB]
Researchers at a government-funded science and technology research institute conduct R&D work. [Herald DB]

More than eight in 10 workers at government-funded research institutes say stable research funding and greater autonomy are needed following the abolition of the project-based salary system, a new survey shows. Respondents also broadly called for expanding the institutes' role in national R&D policy decisions and overhauling their operational structure.

The Public Science and Technology Research Workers' Union released the results Wednesday of a policy survey conducted among 673 workers at government-funded research institutes.

The survey ran for three days, from Thursday to Saturday, and was designed to gauge on-the-ground views on research funding, staffing, operational structure, and wages and working conditions following the abolition of the project-based salary system.

Some 81.9 percent of respondents — 551 people — said the institutes should receive stable research funding and be given greater autonomy to independently determine research content and budget allocation. Those opposed accounted for 13.5 percent, or 91 respondents.

On tightening approval requirements and restrictions on securing external research projects after the system's abolition, 60.6 percent (408 people) were opposed. Meanwhile, 63.9 percent (430 people) said the institutes' total headcount should be expanded by at least 10 percent from current levels.

Demand for an overhaul of the institutes' operational structure was also high. Some 81.3 percent of respondents (547 people) said the system should be restructured to allow cross-ministry coordination of research demand and budgets.

The highest response rate across all survey questions — 87.2 percent, or 587 people — came on whether heads of government-funded research institutes should be guaranteed institutional representation on key committees that determine national R&D policy and budgets. Some 83.1 percent (559 people) also supported introducing a worker-director system that would give labor representatives a seat on the board of the National Research Council of Science and Technology.

Negative sentiment toward wages and working conditions was also pronounced. When asked whether a proposed 3.9 percent wage increase for government-funded research institute workers in 2027 was sufficient to improve their compensation, 84.4 percent (568 people) said it was not.

On how to use compensation funds such as research allowances and R&D performance bonuses, 71.0 percent said the money should go toward raising base salaries.

Based on the survey findings, the union called on the government and the National Assembly to expand basic research funding for the institutes, reform their operational structure, and broaden participation from the research community following the abolition of the project-based salary system.

"The abolition of the project-based salary system must not end with simply converting personnel costs into direct grants," a union official said. "Expanding basic funding that guarantees research institutes' autonomy and reforming governance must be pursued together."


nbgkoo@heraldcorp.com