The Ministry of SMEs and Startups will select deep-tech startups in the six strategic industries and 12 new industries and provide up to 2.2 billion won in basic and follow-up funding.
The Ministry of SMEs and Startups said on the 28th it is recruiting corporations to join the "Ultra-gap Startup Project," which supports deep-tech startups' technology commercialization and global expansion.
This project selects startups in the six strategic industries and 12 new industries and provides them with funding.
The six strategic industries and 12 new industries are △A (① AI ② semiconductors ③ quantum and security ④ robots ⑤ mobility) △B (⑥ life sciences and new drugs ⑦ healthcare) △C (⑧ content) △D (⑨ defense, aerospace, and maritime) △E (⑩ eco-friendly ⑪ energy and nuclear fusion) △F (⑫ sensors and processes).
The size of support varies by track, including "basic support," "follow-up support" for startups with strong results, and "specialized programs."
The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) will accept applications to join the project from the 29th to the 23rd of next month. Detailed information on the project will be available from the 29th on the "K-Startup" portal and the ministry's website.
The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) plans to select 200 new ultra-gap startups, and this notice will select 120 through an open call track.
Selected ultra-gap startups can receive direct support of up to 1.2 billion won per corporation, including up to 600 million won over three years for commercialization funds and up to 600 million won over two years for R&D funds after a separate evaluation based on corporate demand. Policy funds, technology guarantees, and export vouchers can also be provided in connection.
Among ultra-gap startups that completed basic support, top-tier startups with strong results in sales, employment, and investment can receive follow-up global scale-up funding of up to 1 billion won over two years.
The ministry will also run a "technology advancement program" (Tech-UP) that integrates ultra-gap startups' technologies with external technologies to advance them and commercialize quickly. Among these, the "fabless startup support" will newly select 10 fabless firms through this notice. It plans to provide up to 250 million won in technology commercialization funds for one year and offer a package of "design → prototype production → investment attraction."
It also plans to host investment attraction events through the "domestic and overseas ultra-gap venture capital membership," an investment council dedicated to ultra-gap startups.
Minister Han Seong-sook said, "Through the ultra-gap project, we will do our best in a public-private partnership to support innovative deep-tech startups so they can grow into key players in the global market."