2026 AI Competition | AI Co-Scientist Challenge Korea

Ministry of Science and ICT · National Research Foundation of Korea Official AI Competition

2026 AI Co-Scientist Challenge

KOREA

Explore the potential of AI as a research partner in science and technology, promoting new research collaboration between researchers and AI to foster a challenging R&D culture. Open to everyone worldwide for all topics in natural science or engineering.

$15M+

Total Prize

Competition Tracks

Research Fields

SCROLL

About the Competition

The Era Where AI Becomes Your Research Partner,
Official AI Competition by Ministry of Science and ICT

AI Co-Scientist Challenge Korea explores the potential of AI as a science and technology research partner, promoting new research collaboration between researchers and AI to foster a challenging R&D culture. The competition covers all topics in natural science or engineering, with two tracks: AI-based research report writing (Track 1) and Science/Technology AI Agent development (Track 2).

HOST

과학기술정보통신부

ORGANIZER

한국연구재단

Competition Tracks

Two Competition Tracks

AI-based research covering all topics in natural science or engineering, organized into 2 tracks.

Track 1

AI-Based Science/Technology Research & Report Writing

Conduct science/technology research on designated or free topics using various LLM services and AI Agents, and write research reports in paper format.

Choose from 7 designated fields or free topic
Submit research report (paper format, in English)
Submit AI usage report (URLs, logs, checklists, etc.)
Submit list of data used

Open to all, individual or team participation

Dec 10, 2025 13:00 ~ Jan 31, 2026 18:00 (KST)

Track 2

Science/Technology AI Agent Development

Develop AI Agents for science/technology research innovation. ~10 teams selected in preliminary review receive GPU and LLM/API support.

Develop science/technology AI Agent (free topic)
Submit preliminary proposal → Preliminary review (~10 teams selected)
Selected teams: Submit AI Agent + Technical report + Docker image
GPU 4-8 units (A100 level) + LLM/API (~$23,000/team) support

Open to all, individual or team participation

Proposal: Dec 10, 2025~Jan 2, 2026 / AI Agent: Jan 19~Apr 3, 2026

AWARDS

Awards by Track

Grand Prize Winners: Up to $1.9M Support!

Grand Prize

5M KRW

Excellence Award

3M KRW

Outstanding Award

1.5M KRW

Please refer to the official competition announcement for detailed award information.

Common Benefits for Grand Prize Winners

Special Prize $760 for using "EXAONE"

Additional Benefits for Track 2 Grand Prize

Up to $1.9M Support

(Company) Deep Science Startup Support (~$380,000/yr, 3+2 yrs)

(Researcher) Public Research Verification Project (~$380,000/yr, 2 yrs)

Registration Information

Register on the Official Website

Registration for AI Co-Scientist Challenge Korea is through the official website (AI Factory). Individual or team participation available, registration is free.

AI Co-Scientist Challenge

Hosted by Ministry of Science and ICT · Organized by NRF 2026 AI Co-Scientist Challenge Korea

This site provides promotional information for AI Co-Scientist Challenge Korea hosted by Ministry of Science and ICT, organized by NRF. Official registration is through the AI Factory website.

Contact Information

Host: Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT)

Organizer: National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF)

Official Links

Official Website (AI Factory)