Particle accelerators, as large-scale research facilities underpinning basic science, are increasing in scope in terms of industrial utilization. Their influence is also expanding across many areas including life sciences, medicine, nuclear engineering, materials engineering, nanotechnologies, and defense industries. As of 2022, Korea has invested 4.57 trillion won into building and operating six accelerator units. Even though extensive financial resources are poured into the construction and operation of these large-scalefacilities, frequent delays occur in relevant construction projects, and an efficient operation scheme is lacking. Therefore, this report intends to analyze the current state of large-scale accelerator construction and operation projects, identify issues, and address each major issue found.
First, this analysis identifies a need for building a systematic mid- to long-term roadmap for accelerator construction projects and improving the efficiency of relevant financial investments by implementing timely modifications to respond to future science and technology changes. Second, a technology prevalidation R&D phase must be introduced before launching projects to gauge the feasibility and risks involved in R&D efforts. Furthermore, before an actual project take-off, the risk of project delays should be minimized by conducting R&D and facility-building projects in a stepwise manner. Third, accelerator operation efficiency must be increased by fostering specialists and facilitating joint access to accelerator-related technologies, talent, and information. Lastly, efforts should be made towards strategic R&D investments for next-generation accelerators and localization of major equipment, as well as supporting the commercialization of industry players to help strengthen technological capabilities.