The Ministry of SMEs and Startups said on the 7th that it is recruiting small business owners to take part in the "2026 small business lifestyle culture innovation support program."
The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) said it plans to support small business owners through the lifestyle culture innovation support program so they can turn their ideas into products and services with market competitiveness. It is a newly organized program funded by a supplementary budget of 40 billion won this year. The ministry said it will resolve difficulties that arise during product and service development and commercialization and raise program completeness through collaboration with private partner institutions.
Launched for the first time this year, the program will select about 400 small businesses with innovative ideas in daily life sectors such as food, cosmetics, and fashion, and provide up to 100 million won for technology development and commercialization funds to advance their products and services.
Selected small business owners can receive technology development support to realize core functions such as developing eco-friendly materials and producing prototypes, as well as commercialization support for market entry, including branding, design, and marketing. In addition, experts and senior small business owners with experience in the field will be designated as mentors to provide tailored support throughout the entire commercialization process. Participants can also seek collaboration through networking programs among participants.
The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) plans to provide step-by-step support across the entire process, from discovering outstanding products and services to commercialization and spreading results. To promote balanced regional development, more than 70% of all selected projects will be allocated outside the capital area, and projects linked to regional identities—such as local specialties, traditional technologies, and tourism resources—will be selected first and nurtured so they can grow into flagship products and services representing their regions.
Any small business owner currently operating normally can apply. Individual applications are accepted, and joint applications in consortium with private partner institutions are also possible to supplement technical expertise. Small business owners who wish to participate can apply online through Small Business 24 from the 18th to the 8th of next month.
Kim Jeong-ju, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) director general for small business policy, said, "This program will serve as a catalyst for small business owners' creative ideas to grow into innovative brands that reflect regional characteristics."