The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (SMEs) announced on May 15 that it will begin recruiting participants for the second half of the 2026 Small and Medium Enterprise Technology Innovation Development Project, with a total funding pool of ₩15.6 billion targeting 125 eligible companies. This initiative aims to proactively respond to rapidly changing international market dynamics and maximize outcomes through the technological commercialization of SMEs.
This project serves as a primary research and development (R&D) support mechanism from the SMEs ministry, designed to enhance the technological competitiveness of SMEs and facilitate their expansion into foreign markets. By offering targeted funding tailored to the specific characteristics of participating enterprises, the ministry seeks to ensure that funds are effectively utilized to foster sustainable growth.
The competitive landscape is intensifying as countries worldwide accelerate their race to secure cutting-edge technologies. In this environment, nurturing SMEs capable of agile market responses has become essential. The SMEs ministry intends to strengthen the competitive foundation for these companies through robust innovation support, backing their journey to becoming globally recognized small giants.
Among the key areas of strategic business support, the 'Export-Driven' program aids SMEs with high export potential in securing competitiveness overseas. For this second half, 60 companies will be selected to receive up to ₩1 billion in technology development funds for a maximum of two years. Notably, while the previous year’s support was limited to 124 strategically chosen key items in 12 national strategic technology and carbon neutrality sectors, this year eliminates such restrictions, promoting broader technological innovation opportunities.
Additionally introduced this year, the 'Jump-Up' linked program provides R&D funding to promising SMEs selected in the ministry's Jump-Up Program, assisting their ascent to global leadership. For the second half, 5 companies will be chosen to receive up to ₩1 billion over two years, establishing a robust growth framework.
The 'Core Material, Parts and Equipment' initiative aims to promote key technology development in foundational industries, supporting technological independence and innovation capacity. SMEs focused on specialized roadmaps in this sector will be selected for the second half, with 60 companies projected to receive up to ₩500 million in R&D funding over two years.
Hong Young-ho, Director of the Technology Innovation Policy at the SMEs ministry, emphasized the importance of securing technological sovereignty in rapidly shifting international markets. He stated that comprehensive support mechanisms will be established to enable SMEs to gain unparalleled competitive advantages, focusing not merely on R&D assistance but on facilitating concrete economic outcomes for these enterprises.
