Full-Scale Promotion of Challenge-Innovation Type SME and Venture R&D... Up to 10 Billion KRW Bold Investment

Final Selection of Companies for Strategic Technology Theme Projects

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced on the 18th that it has finalized the selection of six companies to carry out the 2024 'Strategic Technology Theme Projects.'

The 'Strategic Technology Theme Projects' are large-scale R&D projects jointly supported by the public and private sectors, providing up to approximately 10 billion KRW in funding to enable small and venture companies to boldly challenge high-risk, high-reward research and development (R&D). After a pilot project last year, it has been fully launched this year.

This year, 98 innovative small and venture companies submitted proposals from the project planning stage. After in-depth planning and evaluation by expert groups in each field, six outstanding projects were finally selected based on their potential to lead the global market, ripple effects, and the necessity of securing technology from a national strategic perspective.

The selected projects correspond to national strategic technology fields such as advanced bio, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and secondary batteries, and are challenging projects with high global market demand.

▲ Development of Ge-on-Si short-wavelength infrared image sensors and camera systems (Semiconductors, Stratio Korea) ▲ Advanced AI-robotics-based self-evolving next-generation material development technology (Artificial Intelligence, Kairos Lab) ▲ AI-based customized bone joint implant embedded development (Advanced Bio, Airs) ▲ Development of novel adjustable T-cell therapeutics and automated culture systems (Advanced Bio, Immunis Bio) ▲ Development of self-adaptive AI-based secondary battery module pack integrated system (Secondary Battery, CTNS) ▲ Development of new industrialization technology for AAV-based gene therapy (Advanced Bio, SeedMogen).

In addition to funding, companies receive tailored support throughout the entire R&D process. Various institutions supporting research and development, such as technology holding companies, research institutes, and patent firms, provide close support to the companies, and project managers with expertise in each technology field assist with full-cycle management.

To reflect global market demand from the early development stages and secure global competitiveness, cooperation with overseas institutions is also supported. Through overseas local R&D support bases, collaboration needs will be identified with world-class research institutions such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Purdue University, and industry-academia-research cooperation programs of each institution will be linked.

While carrying out this project, companies are expected to secure technologies that will lead their respective fields in the global market. For example, semiconductor company Stratio Korea plans to develop infrared image sensors and camera systems applicable to autonomous vehicles, defense weapon systems, and pharmaceutical authenticity verification through this project, with expected sales of approximately 150 billion KRW by 2028.

Kim Woo-soon, Director of Technology Innovation Policy at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, stated, “We will deploy all government support capabilities to ensure that companies secure technology to lead the global market and grow into world frontier-level companies by sharing risks and sufficiently supplying growth engines based on bold challenges.”