Support for Specialized Research Personnel in Small and Medium Enterprises

Recruitment of Companies Participating in 'Small and Medium Enterprise Research Personnel Support'

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Cheol-hyun] The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (Minister Lee Young) announced on the 6th that it is recruiting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to participate in the '2023 SME Research Personnel Support Project.'

This project supports professional research personnel with bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degrees in science and engineering to strengthen the R&D capabilities of SMEs. The support methods are divided into two types: 'employment support' and 'dispatch support of professional research personnel from public research institutes.'

Employment support provides government funding covering 50% of the annual salary for up to three years when an SME hires a science and engineering research personnel. Dispatch support involves sending professional research personnel from public research institutes such as the Korea Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute to SMEs to transfer technical know-how and resolve technical difficulties, with the government supporting 50% of the dispatched personnel's annual salary for up to six years.

The eligible applicants are SMEs that have company-affiliated research institutes or dedicated R&D departments as defined under the 'Act on the Promotion of Basic Research and Technology Development Support.' For employment support, only companies that have newly hired research personnel from one year before the announcement date until the agreement signing date can apply.

This year, the new support scale is approximately 350 companies for employment support and about 120 companies for dispatch support, totaling around 470 companies. SMEs wishing to participate can apply through the SME Technology Development Project Integrated Management System website.

Minister Lee Young stated, "In a rapidly changing environment of corporate technology and management, such as the transition to a digital economy, the core of technological innovation is professional research personnel," adding, "I hope that support for research personnel will serve as a catalyst for technological innovation in SMEs."