Ministry of SMEs and Startups Unveils Technology Evaluation Open Platform ‘K-TOP’ for the First Time

'Small and Medium Enterprise Leap Strategy' No.1 Follow-up Measures
Kibo, 12 Institutions Including Banks and Public Organizations Sign Business Agreement

‘K-TOP,’ Korea’s first open technology evaluation platform embodying 30 years of accumulated technical evaluation capabilities from the Korea Technology Finance Corporation, has been unveiled.

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced on the 19th that it held the 'K-TOP Joint Utilization Agreement for Revitalizing a Private-led Technology Innovation Ecosystem' at V Space in Seoul.

K-TOP (Kibo Technology-rating Open Platform) is a platform that provides technology evaluation information of each company in graded and quantified forms through three core AI-based technology evaluation contents of the Korea Technology Finance Corporation, enabling related institutions such as banks to search and view this information.

With the newly launched K-TOP, technology evaluation information produced by the Korea Technology Finance Corporation for guarantee screening purposes is expected to be utilized not only by companies but also by banks and public institutions.

This allows companies to self-assess their technological capabilities and continue innovation activities, while banks and investment institutions can use technology evaluation information when selecting and screening companies, thereby activating investment and financing for SMEs. Public institutions can also enhance their project execution capabilities according to their policy objectives.

Today’s event proceeded with a K-TOP demonstration, an open declaration ceremony, and an agreement signing ceremony. Twelve related organizations participated in the agreement ceremony, including the Korea Technology Finance Corporation as the host institution, IBK Industrial Bank, KB Kookmin Bank, Shinhan Bank, Hana Bank, Woori Bank, Korea Venture Investment Corp., Korea Venture Capital Association, Small and Medium Business Technology Information Promotion Agency, Korea Institute of Startup & Entrepreneurship Development, Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology, National IT Industry Promotion Agency, and Korea Invention Promotion Association.

The main contents of the agreement include ▲ discovering and supporting innovative growth SMEs using K-TOP ▲ opening and jointly utilizing K-TOP ▲ sharing data related to K-TOP and mutual cooperation to activate technology evaluation.

Minister Oh Young-joo of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups said, “Today’s agreement is the first follow-up measure to the SME Leap Strategy announced by the Ministry on April 29,” and added, “I hope K-TOP will emerge as a key tool to dramatically resolve information asymmetry between SMEs and financial institutions and contribute to the advancement of Korea’s technology finance.”