The Korea Institute of Materials Science(KIMS), a government-funded research institute under the Ministry of Science and ICT, was selected as the winner of the 12th Korea Education Donation Award in 2023, hosted by the Ministry of Education. KIMS was recognized for planning and developing various contents and programs to promote science culture based on different science levels and classes(children, youth, vulnerable groups, etc.). Additionally, the institute was acknowledged for securing educational donation infrastructure and strengthening cooperation with local governments in the convergence science program activities to expand local science culture.

KIMS has implemented‘KIMS Deliver Science’to foster a supportive science donation culture. This initiative aims to enable youth, families, and underprivileged groups, whose access to external science experiences has been limited due to the prolonged pandemic, to continue engaging in remote science culture activities. Other activities include ‘KIMS Visiting Science Classroom,' providing entertaining scientific information to enhance the scientific curiosity of young people, and‘KIMS Carrot Science (Science Near You),' which promotes quality educational donations by reducing the accessibility threshold of Government-funded Research Institutes (GRIs) that are not easily reached by the general public.

Additionally, KIMS organizes the‘KIMS Science Imagination Drawing Contest’annually, with the aim of fostering a passion for science among local children and nurturing their potential. The institute actively participates in local science and culture festivals such as‘the Gyeongnam Science Fair’ and ‘the Changwon Lifelong Learning & Science Festival.’Furthermore, KIMS designs and produces an exclusive science learning cartoon series, ‘Material and Future’, prominently leveraging it in exhibitions and science and culture experience.

Dr. Jung-hwan Lee, the president of KIMS said "As the nation's leading comprehensive materials research institute, we are pleased that our efforts to engage with the public have been recognized. We are grateful for our employees' active efforts and participation in educational donations.”He also mentioned "We will continue to do our best to grow into an organization that contributes to the community as well as the public by actively promoting achievements and information on materials technology, which still remains an unfamiliar area to the public.”

Meanwhile, since 2012, the Ministry of Education has been annually selecting and awarding organizations and individuals who have contributed to the promotion of educational donation culture. This initiative aims to disseminate and revitalize the culture of educational donation.