Fostering 300 Leading Technology Protection Companies by 2027

Recruitment of Participating Companies for the 'Technology Protection Leading Enterprise Development Project'

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Cheol-hyun] The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (Minister Lee Young, hereinafter referred to as the Ministry) announced on the 22nd that it is recruiting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to participate in the 'Technology Protection Leading Company Development Project.' This project aims to nurture SMEs into leading technology protection companies by measuring their technology protection capabilities and providing customized support for each company.

The Ministry has developed a technology protection level verification index suitable for SMEs, which can be easily accessed with the organization's personnel without incurring additional costs. Through this, the technology protection capabilities are quantitatively evaluated based on the management and operation levels of all resources owned by the company, and a customized support project by level has been initiated.

First, a technology protection level verification model suitable for SMEs was developed, and a five-level classification system was established according to the expected extent of damage to the company in case of technology leakage or infringement incidents. The technology protection level verification is conducted by experts who quantitatively evaluate the company's technology protection capabilities on-site according to the verification index. Companies that have confirmed their technology protection level will receive support to strengthen basic capabilities and advance their technology protection level according to their level, aiming to improve their ability to respond to technology leakage and theft.

Basic capability enhancement mainly supports companies with below-average technology protection levels through consultations and other basic capability-building measures. In the technology protection advancement support stage, projects are supported to advance technology protection for companies with good or higher technology protection levels. This year, the Ministry plans to nurture and support 30 technology protection leading companies through level verification and customized linked support for participating companies. If the technology protection capability score is 75 or higher through pre-consultation and level verification, a certificate of designation as a technology protection leading company will be issued, and follow-up support for maintaining and improving technology protection levels for two years will be provided, along with additional points when participating in technology development support projects. Companies with a technology protection capability score below 75 will be supported through linked technology protection projects to nurture them into leading companies.

Won Young-jun, Director of Technology Innovation Policy at the Ministry, said, "This project aims to diagnose companies' security vulnerabilities and protection levels, induce voluntary security efforts, raise technology protection levels, and nurture leading companies," adding, "By 2027, we plan to nurture more than 300 technology protection leading companies and discover and promote excellent company cases to raise awareness about technology protection."

Support Procedure for Fostering Leading SMEs in Technology Protection Project

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