[2021 Economic Policy] Discovering 200 Promising Non-Face-to-Face Startups Next Year

Announcement of the '2021 Economic Policy Direction'

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[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Cheol-hyun] In 2021, 200 promising non-face-to-face startups will be discovered. The government announced the '2021 Economic Policy Direction' containing this content on the 17th.

On this day, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (hereinafter referred to as the Ministry) explained that next year's 'Three Major Projects for Fostering Innovative Ventures' will be fully launched, aiming to discover 1,000 promising non-face-to-face startups by 2025, with 200 startups to be discovered in 2021 and inter-ministerial collaboration supported. In addition, a Smart Korea Fund in the fields of non-face-to-face, bio, and Green New Deal will be established with a scale of 1 trillion won. Sixty Baby Unicorns and about 30 preliminary unicorns will be selected and supported, creating a scale-up ecosystem for startups to grow into unicorn companies.

Among the '2021 Economic Policy Direction,' the Ministry's core tasks include fostering an innovative startup and venture ecosystem. For the startup ecosystem, the full operation of the Large-Star Solver Platform, advancement of non-face-to-face service platforms, promotion of domestic startups by foreigners, and establishment of a 'Three-Year Startup Support Plan' will be promoted. In the venture ecosystem, the introduction of Silicon Valley-style investment conditional loans, adoption of standard venture investment contracts, private-centered implementation of the venture verification system, and introduction of multiple voting rights are planned.

Support policies for small business owners will also be strengthened. First, about 20,000 smart stores and 600 smart workshops will be established to digitalize small business owners and traditional markets. Activation of live commerce and subscription economy, hosting online consumption festivals such as the Together Sale, and strengthening support for re-startups in non-face-to-face industries are also planned. To improve small business management, the issuance of Onnuri gift certificates will be expanded to 3 trillion won, and the small business easy payment system with 0% payment fees will be expanded to online shopping malls and delivery apps. Expansion of tax and legal consultations for small business owners in the closure and recovery stages and support for re-startup commercialization costs will also be implemented.

The 'Protocol Economy Development Strategy,' which complements issues such as platform economy monopolies through fostering blockchain startups, is scheduled to be established in the first quarter. This includes blockchain venture and startup fostering projects, case discovery through the Large-Star Solver Platform, blockchain research and development (R&D) support, and demonstration support in the Busan Blockchain Regulatory Free Zone.

In addition, the Ministry identified key tasks in the 2021 economic policy direction such as promoting innovative growth of regional SMEs through AI and data-based smart manufacturing innovation, expanding designation of regulatory free zones in the Korean New Deal sector, supporting non-face-to-face and online exports of SMEs, fostering promising Green New Deal companies leading 2050 carbon neutrality, and expanding win-win foundations such as discovering and spreading considerate companies.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.