Ministry of SMEs and Startups Launches Startup-Centered University Support Project... Up to 200 Million KRW Support

11 Universities Including Chungbuk National University and Chonnam National University to Participate
Selected Startups to Receive Commercialization Funds and Investment Support

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced on the 14th that it will begin recruiting prospective entrepreneurs and startup companies to participate in the 2025 Startup-Centered University Support Project starting from the 21st.

The Startup-Centered University Support Project is a program led by universities with excellent startup support capabilities, aimed at supporting regional, university, and youth startup companies. This year, two additional universities outside the metropolitan area (Chungbuk National University and Chonnam National University) have been designated, bringing the total to 11 startup-centered universities across six regions.

Through the startup-centered universities this year, a total of 773 prospective entrepreneurs and startup companies (teams) will be selected, and the selected companies will be provided with commercialization funds, investment attraction, demonstration and verification, and other startup capacity-building programs.

The 2025 startup-centered universities will select and support (prospective) startup companies in three categories: ‘General Type within Region,’ ‘Regional Key Industry Linked Type,’ and ‘First-Time Young Prospective Entrepreneur.’

The General Type within Region supports prospective entrepreneurs and startup companies located within the region. Selected companies will receive up to 200 million KRW in commercialization funds and startup support programs provided by each startup-centered university.

The Regional Key Industry Linked Type, introduced for the first time this year, selects prospective entrepreneurs or startup companies corresponding to the regional key industry fields designated by each startup-centered university. Selected companies will receive up to 200 million KRW in commercialization funds and linked support for startup infrastructure such as research equipment owned by each university.

The First-Time Young Prospective Entrepreneur Track is a dedicated track for young prospective entrepreneurs aged 29 or younger. Selected prospective entrepreneurs will receive up to 100 million KRW in commercialization funds and startup support programs provided by each university.

Jo Kyung-won, Director of Startup Policy at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, stated, "We will actively utilize the startup infrastructure such as personnel and equipment possessed by universities to support regional startup companies, and strive to enable startup-centered universities to play a leading role in the regional startup ecosystem through linkage with regional key industries."