On February 16, 2009, AIST concluded a MOU on comprehensive research cooperation with the Korea Research Council for Industrial Science & Technology (ISTK).

In 2008, many of the national research organizations were reorganized under two councils in Korea. ISTK is one of the two scientific concils in Korea and is under the Ministry of Knowledge Economy. Presently, under ISTK, there are 13 research institutes for mechanical engineering, electronics, chemistry, geology, energy, materials, manufacturing, and for other fields in common with AIST, and it has been transformed into a research organization of a size equivalent to AIST. At ISTK, the strengthening of new functions such as planning, management, and evaluation of these research institutes has become an issue.

AIST has concluded, over the years, 15 still active collaborative research MOUs and joint research contracts with ISTK institutes: the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology, the Korea Institute of Energy Research, the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources, and the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology. With this new MOU, not only further promotion of research cooperation is hoped for, but active cooperation is also expected in areas of research management such as of projects, research units, and researcher evaluation in which AIST has some experience.