The government has selected 52 research projects from 18 universities to receive state funding.

The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology said that the Korea Science and Engineering Foundation made the selections through a three-step evaluation process consisting of a panel review, a peer review by foreign scholars and a comprehensive review.

As part of the new funding program, 26 research projects from 13 universities will receive state grants for the hiring of full-time professors from abroad and the opening of new major programs.

Seven projects from Seoul National University qualified for the research grant. Three each from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology and POSTECH and two each from Yonsei University and Sungkyunkwan University were selected.

The universities will sponsor 203 scholars from abroad and open new research programs next year, including studies focused on next-generation solar power and hybrids.

The ministry says that its investment in the university projects will escalate the worldwide reputations of Korea's research institutions.