Government Selects Industry Convergence Innovation Items and Leading Companies

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Haeyoung] The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on the 16th that it will select and support 'Industrial Convergence Innovative Items' and 'Leading Companies' to promote industrial convergence and foster small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and mid-sized companies.

To this end, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy will announce the 2021 selection plan for Industrial Convergence Innovative Items and Leading Companies on the 17th. When selecting Industrial Convergence Innovative Items, ▲ they will be included in the priority purchase items for SME technology development products (Ministry of SMEs and Startups), ▲ additional points will be given for selection as excellent procurement items (Public Procurement Service) and pilot use items of excellent commercial products (Ministry of National Defense), and ▲ preferential treatment will be given when selected for KOTRA's full-cycle overseas expansion support. Companies possessing items selected as Industrial Convergence Innovative Items can also apply for support as 'Industrial Convergence Leading Companies.'

If selected as an Industrial Convergence Leading Company, ▲ reductions and preferential treatment for technology and credit guarantee fees, ▲ technology acquisition support (R&D), ▲ participation in exhibitions, ▲ consulting, and ▲ information sharing and networking among companies will be provided as additional benefits.

The qualifications for Industrial Convergence Innovative Items and Leading Companies are maintained for two years, and extension is determined through a re-evaluation at the end of the period.

From the 17th until the 5th of next month, applications and submissions for the selection announcement of Industrial Convergence Innovative Items and Leading Companies can be made through the National Industrial Convergence Support Center website. The selection results are scheduled to be announced in November.

Kim Sangmo, Director of Industrial Technology Convergence Policy at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, stated, "We will actively discover and support innovative industrial convergence success models so that domestic SMEs and mid-sized companies can acquire industrial convergence growth engines to lead the post-COVID-19 era."

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