The government will launch a system to foster and support talent in natural sciences and engineering as part of efforts to overcome the nation's stagnant growth.

Under a "talent strategy and research and development ecosystem innovation plan" announced at a public briefing on Friday, the Ministry of Science and ICT said around 20 researchers with accumulated world-class research achievements will be named "national scientists."

The government will pay them an annual research activity grant of 100 million won, or around 69-thousand U.S. dollars and include them in national R&D planning and policymaking.

The base of primary and secondary math and science education will grow, as will scholarship and fellowship programs for undergraduates, graduate students and up-and-coming researchers.

The move comes as the government is working to curb a brain drain in the country. A report released in June by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry showed that in 2021, scientists leaving South Korea exceeded those entering at two-point-85 percent and two-point-64 percent respectively.

During the session, President Lee Jae Myung said the portion of the budget allocated to R&D in his 2026 proposal marked a 19-point-three percent increase from this year, stating that only through R&D investment would South Korea have a future.