On the 24th, the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises and Startups held the '2025 DCP Strategy Meeting' in Seoul and announced new tasks for the 2025 Deep Tech Challenge Project (DCP).
The DCP is a project that supports small and medium enterprises in challenging high-risk, high-performance research and development (R&D) with up to 10 billion won in funding, combining efforts from the public and private sectors. When the government sets technology tasks that are strategically necessary for the country, corporations, investors, and research institutions form 'project teams' to tackle them.
This time, 19 tasks were announced in future strategic fields such as bio, artificial intelligence (AI), and semiconductors.
In the advanced bio field, four tasks have been proposed, including the development of cancer diagnostic devices through liquid biopsy. In the AI field, two tasks were presented, including the development of an AI-based multifunctional robot solution to support nursing tasks. In addition, three tasks were selected in the semiconductor and display fields, including the development of plating mass production equipment for multi-size wafer-based interposers.
Additionally, 10 projects were proposed in areas such as secondary batteries, mobility, aerospace, and carbon neutrality.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises and Startups announced a restructuring plan for the DCP through this meeting. It will integrate the dispersed strategic functions of the DCP into a single system, and the support target will also shift to a 'project team' selection method. Moreover, to ensure continuous R&D support, equity investments will be linked after the initial investment, and a project manager (PM) will be matched one-on-one with each project to support the entire cycle and lead to business outcomes.
Minister Oh Youngju noted, 'The key to navigating through this era of upheaval lies in small and medium enterprises and startups equipped with technological capabilities, creativity, and innovation.' He added, 'We will actively support the innovation and challenges of small and medium enterprises to secure technological sovereignty and enhance competitiveness in this era of global infinite technology competition.'