'Failed research deserves recognition too': KAIST brings reform proposals to National Assembly

KAIST is pushing for regulatory reforms to help advanced technologies developed in Korean laboratories reach industries and everyday life. The university plans to bring the research community's concerns directly to the National Assembly — from overhauling how failed research is evaluated to expanding investment in deep tech startups and easing restrictions on solar power installations on campuses.

KAIST said it will operate a booth titled "From the Lab to the Assembly" at the 2026 National Assembly Legislative Expo, to be held Thursday and Friday at the central lawn of the National Assembly and surrounding venues.

At the expo, KAIST will present reform proposals across three areas: fostering high-risk research, supporting deep tech startups and expanding renewable energy on campuses.

On research evaluation, KAIST proposes that the knowledge and experience accumulated through failed experiments be recognized as legitimate research outcomes — not just whether a project succeeded.

Drawing on its experience running a dedicated failure research institute, KAIST argues that even when a research goal is not achieved, findings that identify new knowledge or technical limitations through rigorous verification should be formally recorded, shared and credited toward future research. The university is calling for an evaluation, documentation and sharing system to make that possible.

In the deep tech startup space, KAIST is proposing investment regime changes that reflect the long commercialization timelines typical of advanced-technology companies.

The proposals include setting a mandatory deep tech investment ratio for government-backed funds and extending the operating period allowed before returns must be realized. Also included are measures to reduce the tax burden and domestic support gaps that arise when startups establish overseas parent companies to attract foreign investment.

For companies whose financial indicators have deteriorated because investment funds are classified as liabilities on their books, KAIST proposes that eligibility for national R&D programs be assessed based on actual financial conditions and research capacity rather than accounting figures alone.

On renewable energy, KAIST is seeking deregulation of solar power installations at universities and public institutions.

Under current rules, power generation projects with a capacity of 3,000 kilowatts or below require approval from provincial or metropolitan governments, while larger projects require central government authorization. KAIST said the capacity threshold for local government approval should be raised — or a separate standard established — for solar projects that use existing structures such as rooftops and parking lots on university campuses.

KAIST plans to gather feedback from expo visitors and incorporate it into a final proposal before submitting it to the National Assembly.

The expo will also feature live demonstrations of cutting-edge research.

The team of KAIST Department of Mechanical Engineering Professor Park Hae-won will showcase a humanoid robot capable of walking on two legs and performing complex movements including a moonwalk. The team of Professor Hwangbo Jemin will demonstrate Raibo, a quadruped robot that can navigate difficult terrain including sand, stairs and rubble.

The team of KAIST Kim Jaechul Graduate School of AI Professor Joo Jaegul will unveil an AI technology called EgoX that generates a first-person perspective video of a person based solely on third-person footage of that individual.

KAIST President Bae Choong-sik said there are institutional barriers that research alone cannot overcome on the path from the laboratory to people's lives. "We will explain to the public the cases we have experienced firsthand, listen carefully to a wide range of opinions, and make sure the public's voice is conveyed clearly to the National Assembly," Bae said.