The Ministry of SMEs and Startups said on the 14th that it will begin recruiting participants for the second-half round of the 2026 Small and Medium Enterprise Technology Innovation Development Program to support small and mid-sized companies in strengthening technological competitiveness and expanding overseas market entry.
The program is a research and development (R&D) initiative to support SMEs in securing proprietary technologies, commercialization, and overseas market entry. The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) plans to newly select a total of 125 companies in the second half and provide R&D funds totaling 15.6 billion won.
Support types will be subdivided and operated according to corporations' growth stages and project objectives. First, under the "export-oriented" track, technology development support will be provided to SMEs with high potential for overseas expansion. In the second half, 60 companies will be selected and provided up to 1 billion won per year for up to two years in technology development funds per company.
Until last year, support focused on 124 strategic items in the 12 national strategic technologies and carbon neutrality fields, but starting this year, restrictions on technology fields have been lifted. However, existing strategic items in the strategic technology and carbon neutrality fields will be given preference in the evaluation process.
A "Jump-Up linkage" track has also been newly established. For corporations selected for the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) "Jump-Up program," research and development funds will be provided so high-growth SMEs can leap to become global leading companies. In the second half, five companies will be selected and provided up to 1 billion won per year for up to two years per company.
Lastly, the program will support the development of core technologies in the materials, parts, and equipment (MPE) sector and work to strengthen technological self-reliance and innovation capabilities. It will support corporations that fall under the roadmap strategic items tailored to SMEs. In the second half, 60 companies will be selected and provided research and development funding of up to 500 million won for up to two years.
Details of the Small and Medium Enterprise Technology Innovation Development Program notice can be found starting on the 15th on the websites of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the Integrated Government R&D Support System. Applications will be accepted online on the Integrated Government R&D Support System website from June 1–15.