Support for R&D of Quarantine Supplies and Equipment Focused on Small and Medium Enterprises Continues

TIPA, 2021 Field Demand-Oriented Quarantine Supplies Technology Development Project Second Half Announcement

Employees at Zenbody's Bandung factory in Indonesia are producing COVID-19 rapid test kits using K-quarantine technology.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jong-hwa] Excellent quarantine supplies developed by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through the Quarantine Supplies Technology Development Project are becoming a strong support for 'K-Quarantine.' At the center of Korea's exemplary COVID-19 response and the spread of K-Quarantine achievements, SME R&D products are playing a key role.

The Korea Technology and Information Promotion Agency for SMEs (TIPA) is recruiting for the '2021 Second Half Support Projects for On-site Demand Customized Quarantine Supplies Technology Development Project' to continue these achievements. The project was announced on the 30th, and applications will be accepted from the 14th of this month until the 2nd of next month.

This project supports the development of quarantine supplies and device technologies that solve difficulties in infectious disease response sites such as COVID-19 through the creative ideas of SMEs. Through this, it aims to innovate the technology of SMEs in the field of quarantine supplies and devices and expects to spread the achievements of K-Quarantine.

In the recruitment for the first half of 2021, 247 SMEs applied for 24 support targets, showing a high competition rate of 10.3:1, confirming the strong interest of SMEs in K-Quarantine. In particular, in the designated open call, some items such as virus removal filters, infectious disease response UV quarantine robots, and quarantine devices using spatial lighting showed a high competition rate of 11:1.

In the second half of 2021, 26 projects and 3.6 billion KRW will be supported. Fifteen projects under the 'designated open call type,' which supports technology development for items discovered through technology demand surveys, and eleven projects under the 'free application type,' which supports technology development for new product development and performance improvement related to quarantine supplies and devices, will be selected.

By supporting domestic and international certification, regulations, and safety consulting (limited to desired projects), the project aims to increase the success rate of technology development and commercialization for SMEs and spread K-Quarantine achievements through excellent quarantine supplies and devices. Additionally, to reduce the burden on companies due to COVID-19, the private burden ratio for SMEs will be lowered from 25% to 20%, and the cash burden ratio from 40~60% to 10%, allowing them to focus on technology development.

Lee Jae-hong, Director of TIPA, said, "At the center of Korea's exemplary COVID-19 response and the spread of K-Quarantine achievements, SME R&D products have played a key role," adding, "Through the Quarantine Supplies Technology Development Project, excellent quarantine supplies developed by SMEs will not only play a central role in the K-Quarantine system but also become the core of the global quarantine system. TIPA, as a specialized R&D institution for SMEs, will be a strong supporter."

SMEs wishing to participate can apply from the 14th of this month until the 2nd of next month. Detailed information can be found through the 'Comprehensive Management System for SME Technology Development Support Projects.' For inquiries, contact the SME Integrated Call Center (without area code 1357).

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