The Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced on the 12th that it has issued the first implementation plan for 2026 public-private joint technology commercialization (R&D) and will recruit participating corporations from the 29th to Feb. 12.
This program consolidates and newly establishes under public-private joint technology commercialization (R&D) the technology transfer and purchase-linked projects that had been dispersed within the existing technology innovation development program for small and medium-sized corporations. It aims to raise the commercialization success rate of small and medium-sized corporations by organically linking the private transfer of public technology with demand-based research and development (R&D).
The first-half round one support totals about 40.1 billion won, selecting 294 projects. 20.0 billion won (200) will go to technology transfer commercialization (phase one technology verification PoC and market verification PoM), and 20.1 billion won (94) will go to purchase linkage and win-win cooperation. Additional support for TRL jump-up and purchase-linked projects will be pursued through a separate notice.
Among the key support areas, technology transfer commercialization supports the research and development of small and medium-sized corporations that have received transfers of excellent technologies from public research institutions. Starting this year, the model tailored for small and medium-sized technology commercialization (STTR) has been introduced and advanced into a step-by-step support structure.
Technology transfer commercialization will operate in two phases to boost the commercialization performance of small and medium-sized corporations. Through phase one (PoC and PoM) this year, it will support technology and market verification, and from next year, it will select excellent-performing projects from among the phase-one performers and link them to phase-two commercialization R&D. In addition, through the business support agency, it will run a full-cycle tailored program from establishing a technology development strategy to technical consulting and demonstration.
Purchase linkage and win-win cooperation supports projects that conduct technology development according to the needs of demand-side entities or investing corporations, placing emphasis on commercialization through win-win cooperation with large corporations and public institutions. In particular, this year, demand-side entities that faithfully fulfilled purchases after project completion will receive extra points upon reentry, and the mandatory purchase period has been shortened from five years to three to speed the conversion of development outcomes into actual sales.
Hwang Yeong-ho, director general for technology innovation policy at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS), said, "Public-private joint technology commercialization is designed to consolidate the entire process from planning to market entry so that the technologies of small and medium-sized corporations lead to actual sales and market channels," adding, "We will focus intensive support on initial verification in phase one and link excellent projects to phase-two commercialization R&D to maximize the technology commercialization performance of small and medium-sized corporations."