Yonsei Advanced Science Institute

Institute for Basic Science (IBS) is a national research institute established in 2011 with the purpose of driving forward excellence in basic science and fostering world-leading scientific centers in South Korea. IBS was created out of a genuine intellectual curiosity, putting ultimate emphasis on the value of basic science research. Long-term, large-scale, and group research as well as maintaining autonomous research activities are the key founding philosophies. Currently, IBS has 30 research centers in a wide range of disciplines including six chemistry and five interdisciplinary research centers, in addition to the Rare Isotope Science project. Its annual budget as of 2020 is US$446 million.

This virtual issue, “Chemistry in Korea: IBS and Beyond”, highlights the latest contributions from eight IBS centers along with exciting advances from other emerging scientists in South Korea. Topics encompass a wide range of chemistry and its cross-boundary researches from theory and simulations, nanomaterials, molecular synthesis, catalysts, spectroscopy, supramolecular chemistry, and soft materials to nanomedicine. While it is still in a growing stage as an institute, with its motto of “Making Discoveries for Humanity & Society”, IBS aspires to serve as a global hub of basic science by promoting collaborations beyond the boundaries of countries and academic disciplines to solve challenging scientific issues that our society is facing. For more information about IBS, please visit https://www.ibs.re.kr/eng.do.