Building Excellence in STI Policy: The 2025 ISTIC–KISTEP Training Programme
From the 12th to 15th August 2025, the International Science, Technology and Innovation Centre (ISTIC) under the auspices of UNESCO and the Korea Institute of Science and Technology Evaluation and Planning (KISTEP) jointly organized the 2025 ISTIC–KISTEP Training Programme in Seoul, Republic of Korea. The programme gathered 21 senior policymakers and officials from 15 developing countries to exchange views on the theme “Enhancing STI Policy Excellence : Focusing on Evaluation Systems and Science Diplomacy: Insights from Korea.”
The training programme consisted of eight lecture sessions covering key aspects of Korea’s approach to science and technology policy. Topics included the evolution of Korea’s national STI strategy, the Basic Plan for Science and Technology, the identification of national strategic technologies, and methodologies for evaluating R&D programmes and institutions. Sessions also addressed budget allocation and coordination in research funding, as well as the role of science diplomacy in strengthening international cooperation.
The initiative is part of a long-standing collaboration between ISTIC and KISTEP, which began in 2009 with the launch of the joint STI Training Programme for High-Level Policymakers. The partnership is based on sharing Korea’s experience in developing a strong policy framework for science, technology and innovation. Over the past 16 years, the programme has trained more than 250 participants from 71 countries, providing both capacity building and a platform for international dialogue.
The 2025 programme aimed to enhance policymakers’ understanding of R&D planning, investment, and evaluation systems, while also highlighting how science diplomacy can be integrated into policy processes. By the conclusion of the four-day programme, participants had acquired practical insights into STI policy design and evaluation, exposure to Korea’s governance model, and opportunities to build professional networks with peers from other developing countries.
