The Ministry of SMEs and Startups is fully launching a large research and development (R&D) program, the "Ecosystem-Innovation Deep Tech Challenge Project (Deep Tech Challenge Project·DCP)," to drive innovation in national strategic technologies. The plan is to discover and nurture promising technologies that will lead future industries—such as semiconductors, small modular reactors (SMR), space and aviation, and next-generation bio—to secure competitiveness in the global market.
The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) held an official launch ceremony for seven ecosystem-innovation DCP preliminary research project teams on the 24th at Startup Venture Campus in Mapo District, Seoul (SVC Seoul).
The launch event was attended by First Vice Minister No Yong-seok of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS); lead research and development institutions and joint/commissioned research and development institutions in the seven strategic technology fields; officials from partner organizations; and about 70 people from the private investment sector, including venture capital (VC).
The ecosystem-innovation DCP is a large-scale project designed to identify and support innovative technologies and tasks that can reshape the global market landscape. Numerous small and venture businesses, large corporations, universities, and government-funded research institutes will participate, and up to 20 billion won in R&D funding will be provided for up to four years in connection with at least 3 billion won in upfront private investment from firms such as VCs.
The seven project teams launched this time were finally selected for preliminary research through written and in-person evaluations by a panel of judges composed of technology experts and corporate management and investment experts, as well as a public expert evaluation panel. The open call recorded a high competition rate of 41 to 1.
Over the next four months, the project teams will conduct preliminary research to verify technological feasibility (PoC) and marketability (PoM). Each team, centered on the lead institution and in collaboration with joint and commissioned institutions and partner corporations, plans to verify the commercialization potential and technological competitiveness of core technologies such as semiconductors, SMR, space data centers, and all-solid-state batteries. After the preliminary research concludes, five projects with verified originality and commercialization potential will be selected as final tasks and receive full support.
At the launch event, the seven project teams unveiled their research visions and key tasks. Representative examples included: ▲ Lambda Micro as lead, with Hyundai Motor (commissioned research and development institution) and Samsung Electronics (partner institution) participating, "Maximizing productivity in advanced manufacturing processes and establishing a low-power, high-performance next-generation thermal process materials, parts, and equipment ecosystem"; ▲ RX, together with the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) (joint research and development institution), promoting "Development of a light-water heat-supply SMR and establishment of a next-generation decarbonized industrial heat energy ecosystem"; ▲ OmicsAI as lead, with Seoul National University (commissioned research and development institution) participating, "Ecosystem transition for next-generation antibody therapeutics through the Surface-Om Atlas platform"; and ▲ Vine Telecom with LIG Defense&Aerospace (partner institution), "Development of core technologies for an intelligent space data center based on satellite constellations."
First Vice Minister No Yong-seok of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) said, "If this project is carried out successfully, it will dramatically enhance the technological competitiveness of national strategic industries such as semiconductors and SMR and contribute to securing technological sovereignty that will lead the global supply chain," adding, "We will actively support the projects that are finally selected through preliminary research so they can grow into super-gap unicorn corporations."