Three research achievements (including one Best Achievement) from the Institute for Basic Science (IBS), published in 2024, have been selected for the 2025 Top 100 National R&D Outputs. On December 22, the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Korea Institute of S&T Evaluation and Planning (KISTEP) announced the final list of the “2025 Top 100 National R&D Achievements,” including research outcomes from IBS’s Center for Advanced Reaction Dynamics, Center for Multidimensional Carbon Materials, and Center for Vascular Research.

The “Top 100 National R&D Outputs” program is a representative, cross-ministerial initiative launched in 2006 to enhance public understanding and interest in scientific and technological research that drives national development, and to promote pride among scientists and engineers. This year, out of 970 candidate achievements recommended by government ministries, a final selection of 100 (including 12 Best Achievements) was made through evaluations by a panel of experts from academia, industry, and research institutes, as well as a public verification process.

Among the selected achievements, the work of Director IHEE Hyotcherl of the Center for Advanced Reaction Dynamics in the Pure Basic Science and Infrastructure category received particular attention by being chosen as a Best Achievement.

Director Ihee’s research, titled “Capturing the generation and structural transformations of molecular ions” (Nature, 2024), is the world’s first to observe in real time the process from the moment molecular ions are formed in the gas phase to the subsequent changes in their atomic structure. This achievement opens a new frontier in the study of ion structural dynamics, an area that had previously been difficult to access. In particular, the discovery of a “dark state,” during which no structural changes occur for several picoseconds after ion formation, provides a critical clue for understanding the fundamental principles of chemical reactions.

In the Machinery and Materials field, the achievement “Growth of diamond in liquid metal at 1 atm pressure” (Nature, 2024) by Director Rodney S. RUOFF of the Center for Multidimensional Carbon Materials was selected. This research overcomes the limitations of conventional diamond synthesis methods that require high pressure and high temperature, demonstrating for the first time in the world that diamonds can be synthesized under ambient temperature and pressure conditions. The work is evaluated as presenting significant potential for expansion into advanced industries such as next-generation semiconductors, quantum devices, and ultra-durable coatings.

In the Life and Marine Sciences field, the study “Nasopharyngeal lymphatic plexus is a hub for cerebrospinal fluid drainage” (Nature, 2024) by Director KOH Gou Young of the Center for Vascular Research was selected as an outstanding achievement. This research identifies a key pathway through which cerebrospinal fluid removes waste from the brain, providing crucial scientific evidence for understanding the mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and for developing new therapeutic strategies.

Meanwhile, since 2017, IBS has consistently had its research achievements selected for the Top 100 National R&D Achievements each year, building a strong cumulative record of recognition. This reflects IBS’s role as a basic science research institution that continues to pursue long-term, challenging research rather than short-term outcomes.

Going forward, IBS will continue to contribute to strengthening national scientific and technological competitiveness and advancing science and technology through basic research that elucidates the fundamental principles of natural phenomena.