Amid increasing challenges in global research mobility—including recent U.S. restrictions on international student enrollment—Seoul National University (SNU, President Ryu Hong Lim) is expanding a broad range of programs to promote international research collaboration and attract world-class research talent. These initiatives not only support academic continuity but also strengthen SNU’s role as a leading hub for global research engagement.
Since 2024, SNU has significantly broadened its global research and talent recruitment initiatives. A flagship example led by the SNU Office of Research Affairs is the SNU OPEN WORLD (SOW) Program, a two-way support program that promotes both outbound mobility for SNU faculty and inbound visits by distinguished international scholars, with a primary focus on international co-authorship.
Looking ahead, SNU plans to introduce additional programs including the Strategic Hub for International Research Collaboration in late 2025, a new initiative designed to support the formation and networking of international research teams—particularly among doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers. In 2026, the Frontier Fellow and Postdoctoral Researcher Development Program will expand existing postdoctoral support to include larger-scale international collaborative research.
Key Programs and Initiatives
- ○ Ascending SNU Future Leader Fellowship recruits exceptional early-career researchers within two years of earning their PhDs (or soon to graduate) and supports their research activities.
- ○ BK21 Global Post-Doc Program provides research funding to international postdoctoral researchers affiliated with BK21 project groups at SNU.
- ○ SNU Strategic Studies Fellowship Project identifies promising researchers from global institutions in key strategic fields, supporting their policy-oriented research and outreach activities.
- ○ Frontier Fellow and Postdoctoral Researcher Development Program (launching 2026) is an expanded and comprehensive framework that supports postdoctoral researchers by integrating talent development with international research collaboration.
- ○ Global SNU Research Partnership Platform supports the establishment of international joint research centers within SNU’s research institutes, fostering long-term international collaboration.
- ○ BK21 Graduate Student International Collaborative Research Support (expanding in late 2025) enables graduate students—including those outside current BK21 project groups—to engage in international collaborative research.
- ○ Strategic Hub for International Research Collaboration (launching late 2025) will facilitate the formation and networking of international research teams led by doctoral students and postdocs.
- ○ SNU OPEN WORLD (SOW) Program is a two-way support program that funds outbound international collaborative research activities by SNU faculty and inbound visits by distinguished international scholars, with the primary goal of international co-authored publications.
- ○ BK21 Global Visiting Fellow Program supports inviting globally recognized scholars for short-term joint research with BK21 project groups at SNU.
- ○ New Faculty Startup Fund provides seed funding for newly appointed full-time, endowed, and HK faculty for up to two years (with a possible one-year extension), supporting a stable and productive research start.
Global Engagement Rooted in Legacy and Vision
These programs offer tangible opportunities for doctoral students, postdoctoral researchers, and faculty—particularly those in the U.S.—to engage in collaborative research at SNU or in partnership with SNU researchers. To broaden access further, SNU is actively integrating external funding sources, such as the Ministry of Science and ICT’s Brain Pool Program, to attract high-potential researchers considering relocation from outside the U.S.
At the 70th Anniversary Workshop of the Minnesota Project, held on June 21, 2025, at the University of Minnesota, President Ryu reaffirmed SNU’s commitment to advancing global research cooperation:
“Despite a difficult global research climate, it is crucial for SNU to carry forward the spirit of the Minnesota Project—a foundation for Korea’s academic and national development. We will actively expand international research collaboration and attract global talent in that same spirit.”
The Minnesota Project (1954–1962), officially the Seoul National University Cooperative Project, was a landmark U.S.-funded higher education initiative led by the University of Minnesota. It played a pivotal role in SNU’s post-war recovery through faculty training, international exchange, infrastructure development, and academic resource support.
Vice President Shashank Priya of the University of Minnesota also affirmed new directions for institutional cooperation:
“The University of Minnesota recently launched the ASIA Initiative, a new internationalization strategy focused on Asia. We are proud to include SNU as one of our first partner institutions under this program.”
Toward a Premier Global Research Hub
SNU remains firmly committed to providing sustained, practical support to ensure that international researchers can continue their work in collaboration with the university. These efforts will not only enhance global research continuity but also reinforce SNU’s position as a premier destination for top-tier global talent and cross-border academic partnerships.