The Brain Korea 21 PLUS Grant, or BK21 PLUS for short, which is one of the largest and longstanding government-led research grant programs, was initiated in 1999 with the aim of supporting Korean higher education and research institutions in order to foster future generation in academia. In other words, BK 21 PLUS is a national human resources development project initiated to produce creative, master, and doctoral-level human resources that will lead the Creative Economy of Korea, and to promote the creation of new knowledge and technology based on creativity.

The College of Science demonstrated its academic excellence and competitive edge against the comparable disciplines at other Korean Universities, by winning the bids for the grant program in 2016. Its remarkable accomplishment also enabled itself to stand as one of two universities where all departments of the four major areas of basic science - biological sciences, mathematics, physics, and chemistry - were selected after going through the mid-term evaluation and review conducted in 2015-2016. The total amount of financial aid that the College of Science is going to collect from 2016 to 2020 reaches approximately 12.7 billion KRW (11 million USD).

Education Center for Creative Leaders in Intergrative Biology

Director: Prof. LEE Jae-Seong (Biological Science)

Education Center for Creative Leaders in Intergrative Biology

Educational Vision	Foster internationally competitive human resources who lead the biological sciences studies and researchers Integrate education and research in biology in order to create a new paradigm, or RE-DUCATION, for future era of biological and life sciences Develop systematic and tailored biology education programs from early stages of study to graduate programs ("pipette to publish") Invent industry-customized question-based-reducation, or IQBR, education model
Research Vision	Produce world-class researchers and scientists to be able to enable the department to stand as a global powerhouse for biological science research activities Focus on intellectual and collective research by engaging in an international research environment
Goal	Nurture biological scientists who can conduct self-directed learning and research Educate global leaders with insights, knowledge and awareness to international trends and vision in bio industry and academia

Creative Mathematical Sciences Division

Director: Prof. WHANG In-sung (Mathematics)

Creative Mathematical Sciences Division

Educational Vision	Construct world-class education infrastructures and nurture creative global human resources Train master’s and doctorate creative human resources who can generate future convergence technology through renewal curriculum of pure and convergence mathematics Nurture master’s and doctorate human resources who have convergence knowledge, communicative leadership, and a creative challenge spirit, based on 4 personalities: 'benign', 'righteous', 'civility', and 'wisdom' of the university
Research Vision	Enter the top 10 of Global Leading Universities in terms of research capability Hire 10 new professors and attract 30 quality research talents Maximize synergy of convergence studies through interdisciplinary extension of exchange
Goal	Make academic contributions to mathematical society, creating brand new fields of convergence studies and study techniques Improve domestic research levels and capacity Train world-class level human resources of mathematical and convergence research Secure source technology that is an essential element to develop future innovation areas Grow into a developed scientific technical country by raising industrial competitiveness Improve research quality through overseas research professors and introduce advanced research skills utilizing great overseas scholars

Division of HRD for Next Generation Leaders in Physics

Director: Prof. RHEE Joo Yull (Physics)

Division of HRD for Next Generation Leaders in Physics

Educational Vision	Find a virtuous educational cycle system Work constructively on learning, research, and industry for next-generation leaders
Research Vision	Enhance the research capabilities of the department by adopting constructive research ecosystems
Goal	Foster creative global leaders for the next generation Expand physics society by developing the constructive research ecosystem Introduce “physics for the public” through developing the virtuous educational circle system

HRD Center for Creative Convergence Chemical Sciences

Director: Prof. KWON Young-Uk (Chemistry)

HRD Center for Creative Convergence Chemical Sciences

Educational Vision	Produce global academic frontiers leading the global stream of chemistry Nurture creative talents Become the center of education in convergence science
Research Vision	Become the world leader in various convergence studies based on chemistry
Goal	Produce global academic frontiers that will lead studies in chemistry Create various convergences in the field of chemical science Make advanced graduate program