Applications Open from May 16 to 30
The Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced on May 11 that it will be accepting applications for new projects under the "2025 Global Collaborative R&D" program, aimed at expanding global technology cooperation and promoting overseas market entry for domestic small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups.
The Global Collaborative R&D program is a new initiative introduced for the first time this year. It provides up to 1.5 billion KRW in R&D funding over three years to help domestic SMEs and startups secure global-level technological competitiveness and lay the groundwork for entering overseas markets through joint research and development with leading international research institutions such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Purdue University, Fraunhofer Institute in Germany, and the Steinbeis Foundation in Germany. This year, a total of 49 projects will be supported.
Since this is the first year the program is being implemented, the Ministry plans to focus on supporting ten strategic sectors, including artificial intelligence (AI), biotechnology, and semiconductors. To this end, the Ministry analyzed the strengths of each global leading research institution, such as the Fraunhofer Institute and Purdue University, and, through prior consultations with these organizations, derived a total of 215 research and development proposals for the call for projects.
The support is divided into four categories: pre-planned, demand-linked, open call, and preliminary research types. For the institution cooperation track, which includes pre-planned and demand-linked types, candidate companies will be selected at up to twice the final support quota to ensure smooth collaboration with overseas research institutions, and about six months of pre-planning support will be provided. During the pre-planning stage, activities will include establishing strategic collaboration plans for R&D, setting R&D roadmaps and stage-by-stage development goals, and planning detailed research projects. Among these, projects with outstanding plans will receive full-scale support under the Global Collaborative R&D program.
In addition, the Ministry will also support open call projects to allow innovative companies that have participated in major support policies?such as TIPS, strategic deep-tech startups, and Baby/Pre-Unicorn programs?to autonomously conduct global collaborative R&D with leading international research institutions.
The Ministry plans to actively support participating companies not only during the R&D process but also by designating international IP law expert institutions to protect domestic companies and secure maximum rights in case of disputes over intellectual property rights, ownership, or licensing that may arise due to differences in laws and systems between countries during international joint research. The Ministry will provide IP consulting and legal advisory services to participating companies.
Companies wishing to participate can apply online through the Integrated Research Support System website from May 16 to May 30. Detailed announcement information and application procedures by type can also be found on the Ministry's website.
Park Yongsun, Director General for Technology Innovation Policy at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, stated, "There has been significant demand for support in collaboration with overseas institutions from domestic SMEs and startups with excellent technological capabilities. We hope that the Global Collaborative R&D program, being launched for the first time this year, will provide domestic SMEs and startups with opportunities to secure world-class technological competitiveness and serve as a catalyst for their entry into overseas markets."
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