Ministry of SMEs and Startups Announces Public-Private Partnership Open Innovation Support Program

Up to 140 Million Won in Collaboration Funds
Strategic Task Solution and Private Selection Tracks

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced on the 30th that it will issue a notice for the "2026 Public-Private Partnership Open Innovation Support Program."

The Public-Private Partnership Open Innovation Support Program is designed to support matching and collaboration between large and medium-sized enterprises or public institutions with open innovation demand-such as entering new business areas or adopting innovative technologies-and startups. When a partnership is established, the program provides up to 140 million won in collaboration funds to startups for technology verification, prototype production, and more.

First, there is the Strategic Task Solution Track. Large and medium-sized enterprises and public institutions can submit collaboration demand projects that correspond to sectors in the SME Technology Strategy Roadmap for 2025-2027. Startups will then be recruited and matched to jointly address these tasks, and support will be provided for partnership building and collaboration. Approximately 30 collaborative projects are expected to be selected through this call.

For the Private Selection and Recommendation Track, the Ministry will provide support to startups that have been selected through open innovation programs operated by demand companies and support organizations. About 30 open innovation programs run by companies and institutions with outstanding records of co-growth with startups and strong open innovation capabilities will be selected, and startups identified through these programs will be recommended for further support.

Further details can be found in the recruitment notice on the K-Startup website. The application period runs from today until the 23rd of next month.

Cho Kyungwon, Director of Startup Policy at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, stated, "As the market and industrial environment change rapidly, open innovation has become an essential strategy for companies seeking to introduce innovative technologies and enter new business areas," adding, "We will continue to foster the open innovation ecosystem to drive innovation and growth for all our companies."