Skip to main content
KO
|
EN
|
JP
Pine IP Firm
HomeIntroductionExpertsPractice AreasInsightsKorean IP SystemContact Information

2025 SME Technology Development Support Project Summary

Pine IP Firm
January 7, 2025

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups aims to develop new technologies and products and process innovation for SMEs, Enhancing technological competitivenessWe have announced the '2025 SME Technology Development Support Project' to support the program. In this column, we will provide an easy-to-understand overview of the business Project Overview, Support Scale, Application Method, Features and Timeline for Each Detailed Project (Detailed Project) and so on.

1. What is the 2025 SME Technology Development Support Project?

SME Technology Development Support Projectis a process by which small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can achieve Competitiveness in the global marketsecured it, Product and Process Innovationso that stable growth can be achieved. Government R&D FundingThis is a representative policy project supporting the above. In 2025, various detailed projects will be integrated and announced in a comprehensive manner, with detailed announcements tailored to the characteristics of each project planned to be carried out sequentially.

2. Key Directions

  1. Focused Support for New Projects in Strategic Technology Fields
    • We prioritize supporting innovative challenges that challenge the market and set reasonable task goals, Creating Concrete Results Judo
  2. Innovation in the R&D ecosystem
    • Co-effect R&D that allows multiple companies to enjoy ripple effects, joint R&D with global overseas research institutes, etc. Networked R&D Promotion
  3. Fiscal Input Efficiency
    • Actively utilizing private investment and lending methods Supplementing and Enhancing Existing R&Dand prevent duplicate applications

3. Eligibility and Key Qualifications

  • Small and Medium Enterprises: A small and medium-sized enterprise as defined in Article 2 of the Framework Act on Small and Medium Enterprises
  • There are also projects that require participation from consortia (universities, research institutes, etc.) that include the relevant companies, Eligibility Requirements for Each Project AnnouncementYou must check this.

4. Overview of Support Scale, Development Period, and Support Conditions by Project

The table below shows the main Status of SME Technology Development Support Programsand New and ongoing support amounts, maximum development period, support limits, and support ratios by detailed project This is a summary of these points.
(※ Actual support details Detailed Announcement by ProjectPlease be sure to check this information, and some items may change during the announcement.)

R&D Support Program Information

(1) Technology Innovation Development for Small and Medium Enterprises

Background Business Name Support Scale Development Period Support Limit Support Ratio Schedule
Export-oriented 17.6 billion KRW Up to 4 years 2 billion KRW Up to 65% First half (announcement in January, submission in February, selection in April),
Second half (announcement in May, submission in June, selection in September)
Market expansion 73.2 billion KRW Up to 3 years 3.6 billion KRW Up to 75% First half (announcement in January, submission in February, selection in April),
Second half (announcement in May, submission in June, selection in September)
Market-responsive 27.1 billion KRW Up to 2 years 500 million won Up to 75% First half (announcement in January, submission in February, selection in April),
Second half (announcement in May, submission in June, selection in September)

Export-oriented: Technology development support focused on overseas market expansion and securing global competitiveness
Market expansion: Maximizing the effectiveness of technology development through various methods such as private investment, cooperation (collaboration), and performance-oriented approaches
Market-responsive: Support demand-based technology development for companies with high potential for innovative growth

(2) Startup Growth Technology Development

Background Business Name Support Scale Development Period Support Limit Support Ratio Schedule
stepping stone 23.1 billion KRW Up to 1.5 years 200 million won Up to 75% First round (April announcement and submission, June selection),
2nd round (announcement and submission in June, selection in August)
TIPS 56.8 billion KRW Standard type (up to 2 years)
Deep Tech (up to 3 years)
Global (up to 3 years) 		Standard Type (500 million KRW)
Deeptech (1.5 billion KRW)
Global (1.2 billion KRW) 		Up to 75% Refer to detailed announcements for the first and second half of the year

stepping stone: Focused support for startups with innovative ideas and technology within 7 years of founding and sales under 2 billion KRW
TIPS: For outstanding startups decided to invest in by asset managers such as VCs and accelerators
Government matches R&D funds to strengthen global competitiveness

(3) Development of digital-based industrial accident prevention technologies for small and medium-sized manufacturing

Background Business Name Support Scale Development Period Support Limit Support Ratio Schedule
Digital-based Prevention of Industrial Accidents in Small and Medium Manufacturing 1.65 billion KRW Up to 2 years 660 million KRW Up to 75% July announcement, July submission, September selection

Targeting manufacturing companies with fewer than 50 employees, we provide products such as safety sensors, wearables, monitoring, robots, and AI-based systems.
Specialized Support for Industrial Accident Prevention Solution Technology Development

(4) Collabo R&D

Background Business Name Steps Development Period Support Limit Support Ratio Schedule
Industry-Academia Cooperation Preliminary Study (Phase 1) 8 months Within 50 million KRW Up to 75% First Half (January announcement, February submission, May selection)
Commercialization R&D (Phase 2) Up to 2 years Up to 260 million KRW Up to 75% First half (January announcement, February submission, April selection)
Industry-Research Cooperation Preliminary Study (Phase 1) 8 months Within 50 million KRW Up to 75% First Half (January announcement, February submission, May selection)
Commercialization R&D (Phase 2) Up to 2 years Up to 260 million KRW Up to 75% First half (January announcement, February submission, April selection)

Through industry-academia cooperation or industry-research cooperation models,
Support for Preliminary Research (Technology Verification) → Commercialization R&D (Full-scale Development) in Two Stages

(5) Fostering Leading Regional Innovation Companies (R&D)

Background Business Name Support Scale Development Period Support Limit Support Ratio Schedule
Building a Core Industry Ecosystem 13.7 billion KRW Up to 2 years 700 million won per year Up to 75% First Half (January announcement, January submission, March selection)
Strengthening Regional Business Capabilities 7.8 billion KRW Up to 2 years 200 million KRW per year Up to 75% First Half (January announcement, January submission, March selection)

Targeting small and medium-sized enterprises operating in key local industries,
R&D funding support to build regional specialized industry ecosystems and strengthen corporate innovation capabilities

(6) Support for research personnel for small and medium-sized enterprises

Background Business Name Support Scale Support Period Support Details Schedule
Support for Recruitment of Emerging Researchers 5.2 billion KRW Up to 3 years Support of 50% of the standard annual salary (within 5 years for science, engineering, bachelor's, or doctoral programs) First Half (January Announcement, January Submission, May Selection)
Support for Hiring Highly Experienced Research Personnel 4.2 billion KRW Up to 3 years 50% salary support (up to 50 million KRW per year) First Half (January Announcement, January Submission, May Selection)
Support for Dispatching Public Research Personnel 2 billion KRW Up to 3 years 50% of the salary for dispatched public research institutions First Half (January Announcement, Ongoing Submission, Ongoing Selection)
Field-Customized Training Support 4.8 billion KRW 1 year (program-specific by center) Up to 14 million KRW per company, 100% support First Half (January Announcement, Ongoing Submission, Ongoing Selection)

Securing research personnel needed by small and medium-sized enterprises (new, highly experienced, public researchers, field-tailored personnel, etc.)
Supporting Enhanced Technological Competitiveness

5. Application Method and Procedure

  1. Online System Use
    • By Project reception systemPlease check the announcement for details.
    • Inter-ministerial Integrated Research Support System (IRIS, www.iris.go.kr) or the Integrated Management System for Small and Medium Enterprise Technology Development Projects (SMTECH, www.smtech.go.kr) Usage
  2. Essential Preparations
    • Contact Information for Principal Investigator (Project Leader)must be included in the research and development plan.
    • By Participating Researcher National Researcher Number (formerly Science and Technology Personnel Number) and Universal Certified Certificate for Enterprises Pre-issue
  3. Schedule
    • For the schedule for each detailed project (announcement → submission →selection), please refer to the table above.
    • Some projects are announced in both the first and second halves of the year, and if there are changes, please refer to the project announcement or Professional Institution WebsiteGuided by

6. Government-supported R&D expenses and technology fees

  • Government Support Research and Development ExpensesGenerally, the total R&D budget should be within 75%, and institution-borne R&D expenses should be at least 25%.
  • However, since this may vary depending on the specific regulations and task types for each project, Be sure to check the announcement
  • Technology Fees (Ordinary Technology Fees): The for-profit organization (lead or joint) owning the technology development deliverables pays an amount equivalent to a certain percentage of the sales generated over five years after the project is completed.

7. Support Exclusions

The following cases may be excluded from support (please refer to the program-specific announcement for details).

  1. Submission of false documents
  2. Failure to fulfill obligations(Payment of technology fees, entry of performance records, unpaid reimbursements, etc.)
  3. Financial soundness issues such as corporate bankruptcy, business closures, and bankruptcy filings
  4. Arrears in national and local taxes, wage arrears and other reasons occur.
  5. Buddhist or Other LawsIf you fall under the exclusion regulations for support as stipulated by the Act.

8. Contact Information by Project

  • SME Integrated Call Center (1357 without area code)
  • TIPS Business: Korea Angel Investment Association (02-3440-7421)
  • For other detailed inquiries: The information stated in each project announcement Professional and Management Institutions Contact Verification

Tip

  • Before applying, Overlapping Support Tasks from Previous Years, Failure to fulfill obligations Check if any of these conditions apply.
  • Application DeadlineDuring this peak period, online system registration may be difficult, Register with plenty of timeIt's recommended to do so.

Conclusion

2025 SME Technology Development Support Project Summary

2025 SME Technology Development Support Projectis leveraging abundant R&D resources at the government level to help small and medium-sized enterprises Developing innovative technologiesand Strengthening Market CompetitivenessThis is a golden opportunity to do so. especially Export-oriented, Market expansion, Startup Growth, Industry-Academia-Research Cooperation, Regional Specialization, Support for Research Personnel etc. Various Types of BusinessesWith these ready, please carefully select and challenge businesses that match your company's growth stage and target market.

If you are a small and medium-sized enterprise challenging the technology development support project, Securing Intellectual Property (IP)is not optional, but essential. To effectively protect innovative ideas and secure competitiveness during the commercialization phase, a professional patent strategy is essential.

Pine IP Firmis Customized patent strategy consulting, domestic and international patent applications, IP dispute and licensing consulting etc. Professional and comprehensive legal servicesWe maximize the value of your technology.

Right now Pine IP FirmContact us, from technology development to patent acquisition One-stop intellectual property protection solutionExperience it for yourself!