Articles

Characteristics of Large-Scale Research and Development Projects: Case Analysis of the Korean Nuclear Fusion Energy Development Project

Sungshik Yoon

Abstract

This study is intended to analyze the characteristics of Korean science and technology R&D projects involving large-scale facilities and equipment with a focus on the case of the nuclear fusion energy development project. The characteristics of large-scale R&D projects is analyzed depend on this three viewpoints : uncertainty, asymmetries of information and path dependency. The analytical results of this study reveal that Korea’s nuclear fusion energy development project failed to consider uncertainty in the early stage of project planning and thus experienced problems. Also, due to information asymmetry, decision makers failed to acquire adequate information on the project, compared with other projects. Lastly, large-scale R&D projects pursed placed too much emphasis on efficiency and thus relied on a small number of experienced researchers for project implementation.

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