Complete Guide to IRIS (Integrated R&D Information System): A New Era of National R&D Management in 2026
In 2026, South Korea's national R&D management framework is undergoing a fundamental transformation. The previously fragmented systems — e-R&D, RMS (Research Management System), and RCMS (Research Cost Management System) — are being consolidated into a single platform called IRIS (Integrated R&D Information System). This is not merely a system replacement; it represents the government's decisive commitment to digital transformation, unifying the entire lifecycle of national R&D projects — from planning and application to fund management and outcome tracking — within one cohesive platform.
What Is IRIS?
IRIS is a next-generation integrated national R&D management platform led by the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) and developed by the Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information (KISTI). It was designed to fundamentally resolve the persistent problems of data fragmentation, redundant data entry, and lack of inter-system connectivity that plagued the legacy systems operated independently by different ministries and specialized agencies.
The core objectives of IRIS include:
Why the Transition Is Necessary
The limitations of the legacy systems have been well-documented for years. A single researcher had to log into an average of 3-4 different systems, spending dozens of hours annually entering the same information repeatedly. The lack of data connectivity between ministries made it nearly impossible to detect and prevent duplicate funding for similar projects before they were approved.
The government's 4th National R&D Innovation Plan (2024) set an explicit target of reducing R&D administrative burden by 50%, and IRIS is the primary vehicle for achieving this goal. The plan estimates that researchers spend approximately 30% of their time on administrative tasks rather than actual research — a figure that IRIS aims to cut dramatically.
Legacy Systems vs. IRIS: Comparison
| Category | Legacy (e-R&D/RMS/RCMS) | IRIS |
|----------|--------------------------|------|
| System Architecture | Distributed across 30+ ministry/agency systems | Single integrated platform |
| Authentication | Separate accounts per system | Unified SSO (Single Sign-On) |
| Project Application | Different forms per agency | Standardized universal application |
| Fund Management | Separate RCMS access required | Integrated within IRIS |
| Outcome Registration | Separate NTIS registration | Automatic linked registration |
| Data Connectivity | Manual synchronization (frequent delays/errors) | Real-time automatic synchronization |
| Duplicate Detection | Primarily post-hoc verification | AI-based pre-screening |
| Mobile Support | Limited | Responsive web + mobile app |
| User Experience | Inconsistent UI across systems | Unified UX/UI design |
Key Changes for SMEs
#### 1. Transformed Application Process
Previously, companies had to visit multiple websites individually — Bizinfo, NTIS, and each specialized agency's portal — to find announcements and prepare applications using different formats. IRIS introduces unified announcement search and standardized application forms. Once company information is registered, it auto-populates across all applications, dramatically reducing repetitive data entry.
A particularly advantageous feature for SMEs is the AI-powered project recommendation engine. It analyzes the company's industry sector, technology domain, size, and past project history to automatically suggest relevant funding opportunities. This levels the playing field for smaller companies that may not have dedicated staff monitoring dozens of announcement portals.
#### 2. Unified Research Fund Management
Research fund disbursement and management, previously handled separately through RCMS, is now fully integrated within IRIS. The platform offers automatic electronic receipt linking, automated card transaction classification, and real-time spending limit notifications. These features significantly reduce the administrative burden of fund management, which has been one of the most time-consuming aspects of government-funded R&D for SMEs.
The new system also introduces predictive budget alerts that notify project managers when spending patterns suggest they may under-execute or over-execute their budget, allowing for timely adjustments.
#### 3. Restructured Outcome Management
Registration and management of research outcomes (publications, patents, technology transfers, etc.) are handled holistically within IRIS. Previously, outcomes had to be separately registered in NTIS, often months after project completion. Now, outcomes generated during project execution can be immediately linked and registered, creating a real-time portfolio of research achievements.
Four Steps SMEs Must Take to Prepare
#### Step 1: Register Unified Account and Verify Institution
The first priority is completing institutional registration on the IRIS portal. This involves electronically submitting basic documents including business registration certificates and corporate registration documents, followed by representative verification. Organizations already registered in e-R&D/RMS can apply for data migration to automatically import existing information.
Required Documents: Business registration certificate, corporate registration certificate, certified research institute/R&D department recognition letter (if applicable), representative ID
#### Step 2: Organize Researcher Profiles
All research personnel must have their educational background, career history, publications, patents, and project experience registered in IRIS researcher profiles. Linking ORCID and NTIS researcher IDs enables automatic import of existing achievements. This information is directly utilized when forming research teams for project applications.
Companies should use this transition as an opportunity to conduct a comprehensive audit of their researchers' documented achievements, ensuring nothing is missing from official records.
#### Step 3: Master the Standardized Forms
IRIS implements standardized project proposal templates that replace the previously inconsistent forms used by different specialized agencies. Understanding the structure and evaluation criteria of these new templates is essential. Notably, sections on Technology Readiness Level (TRL), market analysis, and commercialization strategy are expected to carry greater weight in evaluations.
We recommend that companies begin adapting their existing proposal materials to the new format structure well before the transition deadline, rather than scrambling during application periods.
#### Step 4: Establish Research Fund Management Infrastructure
IRIS's fund management module provides real-time expenditure monitoring and automated settlement capabilities. Companies need to prepare by configuring ERP system integration or registering dedicated corporate cards to interface with the IRIS fund management module.
This is also an ideal time to review and strengthen internal fund management procedures, as IRIS's enhanced monitoring capabilities mean that irregularities or poor practices will be flagged more quickly than under the legacy systems.
Expected Challenges
#### Data Migration Issues
Migrating accumulated project histories, fund expenditure records, and outcome data from legacy systems to IRIS may encounter data integrity challenges. Data from before 2020, in particular, may require manual correction due to format inconsistencies between legacy systems and the new platform.
Companies should proactively identify and resolve any discrepancies in their existing records before the migration window opens, as post-migration corrections can be significantly more complex.
#### Temporary Increased Workload During Adaptation
During the initial transition period, there may be a parallel operation phase where both legacy systems and IRIS run simultaneously. Research management staff may experience temporarily increased workloads during this period, making early training and manual familiarization critical.
Organizations should plan for this by potentially adjusting project timelines or temporarily increasing administrative support resources.
#### Enhanced Security Requirements
As a unified platform handling sensitive national R&D data, IRIS implements strengthened security measures including multi-factor authentication (MFA), IP access restrictions, and role-based access control (RBAC). Companies should verify that their internal IT infrastructure meets these requirements well in advance.
This may require updating company security policies, implementing new authentication tools, or upgrading network infrastructure — all of which take time and should not be left to the last minute.
Practical Checklist for IRIS Transition
Use this checklist to systematically prepare for the IRIS transition:
How KITIM Can Help
KITIM provides specialized IRIS transition consulting services. Drawing on 13 years of accumulated experience in national R&D project management, we systematically support SMEs through every phase of the IRIS transition.
Change always brings challenges, but with systematic preparation, the IRIS transition becomes an opportunity to strengthen your R&D competitiveness. If you have questions about the IRIS transition, contact KITIM for expert guidance.