The Ministry of SMEs and Startups will publicly recruit companies to participate in the 'Top 50 Outstanding Achievements in Small and Medium Enterprises Research and Development' from the 25th until the 25th of next month.
According to the Ministry of SMEs and Startups on the 22nd, the 'Top 50 Outstanding Achievements in SMEs R&D' is a project aimed at discovering and widely promoting small and medium corporations that have achieved results through SMEs R&D, encouraging continuous performance creation by these corporations.
The recruitment targets for the Top 50 Outstanding Achievements in SMEs R&D include: 30 corporations with excellent technological capabilities that have outstanding economic and technological growth potential among those that have successfully completed or are conducting the Ministry of SMEs and Startups' R&D in the last five years; 10 corporations that possess international-level technological capabilities in strategic technologies such as semiconductors and displays as well as in the energy and environment sectors; 5 corporations that turned crises into opportunities through exceptional technological capabilities; and 5 corporations that solve public and social issues through innovation.
Corporations selected for the Top 50 Outstanding Achievements will receive commendations from the Minister of SMEs and Startups and plaques indicating their selection as one of the Top 50.
Additionally, they will receive benefits such as reduced interest rates on commercialization funds through dedicated banks and preferential treatment in participation in investment capacity enhancement programs from the Korea Technology and Information Promotion Agency for SMEs (TIPA), as well as support for participation in renowned international exhibitions and conferences, and assistance for entry into the job portal of the Industrial Bank of Korea.
Last year, 336 corporations applied, recording a competition ratio of 6.7 to 1. This figure represents a 97.6% increase compared to the 170 corporations that applied in 2023.
Corporations wishing to participate in the public recruitment for the Top 50 Outstanding Achievements in SMEs R&D can apply for the project on the comprehensive management system website for small and medium enterprises' technology development projects. Detailed information can also be found on the notices of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups website and the comprehensive management system website.
Park Yong-soon, Director of Innovation Policy, noted, “The achievements and innovations through SMEs R&D are key factors that determine the future of small and medium enterprises,” and stated that the Ministry of SMEs and Startups will spare no effort in providing policy support to create a technological ecosystem where excellent technological capabilities lead to consolidation into commercial technologies.