The Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul Business Agency (SBA) said on the 19th that they signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the internationally accredited testing body FITI Testing & Research Institute to boost the technological competitiveness of "Seoul-model research and development (R&D) corporations."
Seoul-model R&D corporations refers to small and medium-sized enterprises that receive R&D expense support for technology commercialization through a cooperative support program run by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the SBA.
Founded in 1965, the FITI Testing & Research Institute is the first internationally accredited testing body under the Korea Laboratory Accreditation Scheme (KOLAS) and has global-level testing and certification capabilities across all industries, including textiles, consumer goods, environment, carbon, biohealth, materials, and mobility. With 16 domestic and 10 overseas testing hubs, it is expected to provide practical support for the overseas commercialization of Seoul-model R&D corporations, the SBA said.
Under the agreement, the two institutions will pursue cooperation across the entire Seoul-model R&D process. At the planning stage, FITI experts will join in diagnosing quantitative research indicators to derive necessary testing and certification items in advance and co-design a research and development roadmap that reflects domestic and international standards and ESG criteria. This is a measure to prevent schedule delays and expense increases that occur during certification procedures after a project ends.
At the commercialization stage, performance, safety, and environmental assessments using FITI's testing facilities and equipment will be provided. Discounts on testing and certification fees and priority services for participants in Seoul-model R&D are also under review. The support scope includes not only domestic certifications such as KS and KC but also overseas standards such as CE and ISO, as well as certifications in global sustainability, labor, and environment (Oeko-Tex, ISCC, Higg Index, SLCP, ZDHC, etc.).
The SBA explained that with the addition of this FITI cooperation, the support scope has expanded to a wide range of industries, including textiles, materials, environment, mobility, urban infrastructure, and sustainability (ESG).
The SBA signed agreements in 2023 with Korea Conformity Laboratories (KCL) and the Telecommunications Technology Association (TTA), and in 2024 with the Korea Testing & Research Institute (KTR). Through this, it has established and is operating the nation's first pre-verification system that can objectively diagnose the effectiveness and target levels of projects before R&D begins.
Kim Hyun-woo, president and CEO of the Seoul Business Agency, said, "The cooperation with FITI Testing & Research Institute is an important turning point in advancing Seoul-model R&D into a global verification platform aligned with world standards," adding, "With FITI joining KTR, KCL, and TTA, Seoul-model R&D has built a support system that spans from planning to global expansion." Kim added, "We will provide even more meticulous support so that Seoul's innovative corporations can develop technologies that will succeed in the global market."