On the 7th, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced that it has selected 41 'specialized capability BIs' to solve problems for corporations located in startup incubation centers (BIs) based on institutional capabilities such as industry-academia cooperation functions, available technologies, and specialized personnel.
'Specialized capability BIs' are programs that assist early-stage incubation beyond merely providing space for startups, tailored to the rapidly changing startup environment.
Last year, 52 'specialized capability BIs' were selected, supporting 916 startup corporations. The average revenue of the supported corporations for 2024 was 530 million won, reflecting a 22% increase from the previous year's 430 million won. The number of employees also rose by 28% compared to the previous year.
The 'specialized capability BIs' selected this year are divided into three types. The support amount can reach up to 600 million won over two years.
First, the industry-academia collaborative type supports early-stage startup corporations through university-linked programs. It connects resident corporations with professors and students to promote technical guidance, mentoring, joint technology development, and project planning. Twenty-two universities, including Sungkyunkwan University and Ewha Womans University, have been newly designated. The maximum support amount is 300 million won.
The industry-specialized type supports startup and venture corporations in localized industries. This program links specialized technologies, equipment, and intellectual property held by research institutions to foster regional specialized industries. Three places, including Bundang Seoul National University Hospital and the University of Incheon, have been newly designated. The maximum support amount is 300 million won.
The regional hub type targets non-capital areas with relatively poor startup infrastructure. Local BIs can form consortiums to jointly promote investment attraction, market development, and networking that individual BIs find difficult to manage. Sixteen places, including Gwangju University and Suncheon University, have been newly designated. The maximum support amount is 600 million won.
Chung Ki-won, the director of startup policies at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, noted, "Through this project, I hope the startup incubation centers will establish themselves as institutions that help regional early-stage startup corporations take a leap forward."