Focus on Five Key Areas Including Bio and Content
Up to 100 Million KRW for Domain-Specific AX Projects
Global Expansion Opportunities for High-Performing Startups
The Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced on the 10th that it is launching the "Core Domain AX Startup Fostering Program."
This initiative has been additionally expanded and allocated through the second supplementary budget, reflecting the high AX demand in the field for the "AI Startup Specialized Support Program," which is part of the first phase "Micro Super Gap" program under the three-phase "Super Gap Startup 1000+ Project" announced earlier this year. The ministry explained that the program aims to spread and facilitate the use of innovative AX technologies among SMEs led by AI startups in core industries, thereby enhancing companies' productivity and overall competitiveness.
First, 50 innovative AI startups possessing advanced technologies in five core domains?bio, content, manufacturing, finance, and smart agriculture?with high potential for economic and social impact through AX technologies such as bio, will be selected. The chosen companies will receive up to 100 million KRW in funding for technology commercialization, including domain AX model development and technology advancement.
Additionally, 40 promising AI startups that have jointly established "AX Projects"?which apply AX to the products and services of a wide range of domain AX demand organizations, including large enterprises, mid-sized companies, SMEs, small business owners, and public institutions, to advance technology and enhance general usability?will be selected. These companies will receive up to 100 million KRW in collaboration funding and support for securing new sales channels.
Applications for this announcement will be accepted from the 11th until the 1st of next month. Startups that achieve outstanding results through performance evaluations will be linked to the 2026 "Super Gap Startup" program and supported in entering the global market.
Going forward, the ministry plans to continue supporting AX for domestic AI startups and companies operating core businesses by additionally announcing the "Super Gap LLM Challenge," which aims to create a B2B collaboration model focused on commercialization by combining the LLM (Large Language Model) infrastructure of domestic big tech companies with the creative technological capabilities of AI startups.
Cho Kyungwon, Director of Startup Policy at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, stated, "AX technology, which creates diverse outcomes by converging with various industries and companies, is a core area of the national economy, and at its center are AI startups equipped with domain-optimized technologies." He added, "We will faithfully implement this and other programs to enhance corporate competitiveness by utilizing the AX of innovative AI startups, striving to ensure that Korea joins the ranks of the world's top three AI powerhouses."
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