The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) and the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MOTI) said on the 22nd they will announce the 2026 integrated implementation plan for R&D projects, which includes details on support, eligibility, procedures, and schedules for the R&D programs run by the two ministries.
By integrating the implementation plans for R&D projects that the two ministries had previously announced separately, corporations can now review them in one place—whether through MSS, MOTI, or R&D specialized agencies.
MSS plans to support a total of 2.2 trillion won for 2026 R&D projects, up 45% from 2025. Of that, the budget for new projects is 749.7 billion won, a 2.3-fold increase from the 2025 new-project budget of 330.1 billion won.
In 2026, MSS R&D projects will: ▲ boldly support R&D in regional ecosystems ▲ strengthen TIPS-style R&D linked to private investment (389 billion won) ▲ promote a dedicated technology transfer program for small and midsize corporations to accelerate commercialization (107.1 billion won) ▲ and strategically invest in small and midsize corporations' AI and digital transition and in strengthening responses to global carbon regulations (13.8 billion won).
Based on the R&D innovation plan that makes money released on Sep., it will focus on productivity innovation at regional small and midsize corporations and on creating economic outcomes through R&D. In particular, for major R&D programs such as Scale-up TIPS and public-private joint technology commercialization, more than 50% of the new-project budget in 2026 will be directed to corporations located outside the Seoul metropolitan area, and, in all MSS R&D programs, corporations located outside the metropolitan area will receive additional points in project selection.
MSS will later provide detailed announcements on eligibility, support details, and conditions through calls for each subprogram. For first-half new projects, selection notices will begin in Jan. 2026, with research and development agreements to be finalized in Apr. For second-half new projects, selection notices will be issued in May.
MOTI will provide a record 5.5 trillion won, up 18% from 2025, and will invest 1.4 trillion won in new projects, an 85% increase from 2025. By support area: ▲ 1.8325 trillion won for technological innovation in advanced and key industries such as semiconductors, secondary batteries, bio, future vehicles, robots, and shipbuilding ▲ 1.0455 trillion won for industrial AI diffusion technologies (M.AX), including AI factories and physical AI ▲ 299 billion won for eco-friendly process conversion technologies such as hydrogen-reduced steelmaking ▲ 1.4914 trillion won for stabilizing the supply chain of key materials, parts, and equipment for economic security ▲ 152.8 billion won for the five-pole, three-special regional growth engines, including fostering regional strategic industries ▲ and 704 billion won to strengthen the innovation ecosystem, including cultivating top talent and global cooperation.
In particular, industrial AI diffusion was significantly increased by 52% from the previous year, including 220 billion won for autonomous manufacturing AI factories and 27 billion won for manufacturing AI model development, the flagship projects of the M.AX Alliance launched on Sep., and 80.3 billion won, up 86% from the previous year, will be invested to foster regional strategic industries.
For new projects, contractor selection notices will be issued starting in Jan. 2026, with agreements to be finalized with research-performing institutions in Apr. For ongoing projects, procedures necessary for budget execution, such as progress checks and stage evaluations, will be expedited so that corporations and researchers participating in technology development can focus on their work and research funds can be disbursed by Feb.
Hwang Yeong-ho, director general for technology innovation policy at MSS, said, "Starting with linking integrated announcements so that information on R&D support programs from the two ministries can be found in one place, we will continue to consider and refine measures to reduce administrative burdens in pursuing R&D for small and midsize corporations, so they can focus on R&D."
Choi Yeon-u, director general for industrial technology convergence policy at the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MOTI), said, "By bringing together various R&D program information supported by the two ministries in one place, corporations can conveniently search and compare related information," adding, "The two ministries will pool their strength to prepare dense and diverse support measures across the entire R&D cycle, from technology development to commercialization."