The Small Enterprise and Market Service (SEMAS) said on the 10th that, together with the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, it is recruiting small business owners to participate in the 2026 smart store technology dissemination project for small businesses.
SEMAS is carrying out this project to support the introduction of smart technologies to small business stores—such as barrier-free kiosks that remove usage barriers so anyone can use them and serving robots—in response to the spread of contactless and digital consumption environments.
Up to 70% of the technology introduction expense will be supported with national funds, and the support types are divided into purchase type, rental type, and S/W type depending on the method of adoption.
For the purchase type, up to 5 million won will be provided for general technology. For barrier-free unattended information terminals, the support limit was expanded to 7 million won to improve usability for vulnerable groups such as older adults and people with disabilities. The rental type will provide up to 3.5 million won per year (for up to two years), and the S/W type will provide up to 300,000 won per year (for up to two years). Business owners with disabilities, simplified taxpayers, and sole proprietors are included as priority recipients, and the national funding support ratio will be expanded to 60% to 80%.
Applications will be accepted from 10 a.m. on the 13th to 5 p.m. on Apr. 1. Applications can be submitted online through the Smart Store website. Eligible applicants are small business owners under Article 2 of the Framework Act on Small Enterprises who are operating a store normally as of the application date. Final recipients will be selected after document review and a written evaluation, followed by technology consulting, contract signing, and technology dissemination procedures.
Chairperson In Tae-yeon said, "We will strengthen support so that the introduction of smart technology can lead to tangible management results for small businesses," and added, "We hope for active participation from small businesses that need digital transformation."