Ministry of Science and ICT to Fully Support 'Role-Based Technology Commercialization' from Researchers to TLOs and Company Builders

Building a Full-Cycle System Connecting IP Advancement, Startup, and Investment
Centered on Technology Management Catalyst (TMC)

The Ministry of Science and ICT is launching a full-scale support system tailored to the roles of key players in technology commercialization, such as researchers, Technology Licensing Offices (TLOs), university holding companies, and private accelerators (ACs), in order to promote the market diffusion of public research outcomes. The Ministry announced new projects for 2026 under the 'Support for Commercialization and Startups Based on Public Research Outcomes' and 'Support for Activating Industry-Academia-Research Collaboration' initiatives, with a total of 88.855 billion won in new funding.

Changing the Commercialization Structure... Transition to Role-Based and Full-Cycle Support

According to the Ministry of Science and ICT, the 2026 budget for regional and commercialization-related research and development (R&D) is 487.93 billion won, an increase of 229.342 billion won (88.7%) compared to the previous year. Of this, 'Support for Commercialization and Startups Based on Public Research Outcomes' is allocated 93.052 billion won (up 74.9% year-on-year), and 'Support for Activating Industry-Academia-Research Collaboration' is allocated 56.925 billion won (up 181.5% year-on-year), bringing the combined support for both programs to a total of 150 billion won.

Photo for article understanding. The Asia Business Daily DB

The government explained that it has shifted its policy direction away from single-project-focused support, instead clearly defining the roles of each technology commercialization entity and connecting the entire cycle from IP advancement to startups and investment.

The core of this is the Technology Management Catalyst (TMC) within the 'Support for Activating Industry-Academia-Research Collaboration' program. Through TMC, the Ministry will strengthen the capabilities of each technology commercialization player-researchers, TLOs, university holding companies, and private accelerators-through tailored support.

Specifically, new projects will be selected in the following categories: △ 'IP Star Scientist Support Type' (50 projects), where university and government-funded research institute researchers with outstanding research outcomes (IP) collaborate with private TLOs to advance IP and promote technology commercialization; △ 'TLO Innovation Type' (10 projects), where university and government-funded research institute TLOs work with university holding companies to carry out full-cycle commercialization projects; △ 'Company Builder Support Type' (10 projects), which focuses on nurturing university and government-funded research institute holding companies and private accelerators as specialized technology commercialization companies; and △ 'Comprehensive Technology Commercialization Company Development Type' (2 projects).

In particular, company builders will support the activation of planned startups based on public research outcomes, while comprehensive technology commercialization companies will be responsible for the entire commercialization cycle-from discovering public technologies to startup incubation and follow-up investment-regardless of the institution or technology ownership.

Scaling Up and Deep Science Startups... Sophisticated Support by Type

Within the 'Support for Commercialization and Startups Based on Public Research Outcomes' program, support will be strengthened according to the diffusion path and maturity stage of public research outcomes. First, the 'Next-Generation Promising Seed Technology Commercialization Fast Track' will focus on scaling up technology so that basic and fundamental research outcomes can reach the market, with four projects to be selected under Type 1.

The 'University Research Institute-Startup Joint Innovation R&D Support' program will foster close collaborative R&D between leading university research institutes and startups, particularly in national strategic technology fields, with two new projects to be selected. In addition, the 'Deep Science Startup Activation Support' program will nurture startup models where researchers and private experts collaborate in high-difficulty new technology fields, with four projects to be selected under Type 1, two under Type 2, and two under Type 3, respectively.

In 2026, support for the diffusion of public research outcomes will be further diversified through new initiatives. The 'Support for Promoting the Diffusion of Excellent National R&D Outcomes' program will provide follow-up technology commercialization support for research outcomes selected as one of the 'Top 100 Excellent Outcomes,' with six new projects to be selected.

Additionally, the 'Public Research Outcomes Demonstration Pilot Project' will support technology verification (Proof of Concept, PoC) and small-scale demonstrations based on collaboration between research institutions equipped with laboratories and demonstration infrastructure, with approximately 34 projects to be selected. Detailed announcements and application procedures for these programs can be found on the Ministry of Science and ICT website and the National Researcher Information System (IRIS).

Choi Yunok, Director of the Research Outcome Innovation Policy Division at the Ministry of Science and ICT, stated, "It is an important task to ensure that government R&D outcomes do not go to waste but instead create social and economic value," adding, "We will do our utmost to enhance support by player and type so that public research outcomes become a driving force for Korea's growth."