"Which Companies Will Take on National Tasks?"... Ministry of SMEs and Startups Announces Selected DCP Projects

19 Challenge Tasks Selected Across Bio, AI, and More
DCP Program Reform Measures Unveiled

The government is launching a large-scale "Challenge Project" in which, once it sets out technology tasks for each sector, companies, investors, and research institutes form teams to tackle them. A total funding of 10 billion KRW is expected to be allocated to address 19 selected tasks across various fields, including bio and artificial intelligence (AI).

19 Sector-Specific Challenge Tasks Selected, Including Bio

On April 24, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups held the "2025 Deep Tech Challenge Project (DCP) Strategy Meeting" at Tipstown in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, and announced 19 new tasks for this year. The DCP is a large-scale project that provides up to 10 billion KRW in joint public-private funding to support SMEs in boldly pursuing high-risk, high-reward research and development (R&D). Unlike previous R&D programs, which supported tasks proposed by companies, the DCP involves the government setting out technology tasks deemed essential for the nation, and then companies, investors, and research institutes form project teams to tackle them.

In the advanced bio sector, four tasks have been selected, including the development of cancer diagnostic devices using liquid biopsy. These tasks involve developing advanced technology to selectively capture minute quantities of tumor cells that have detached from cancerous tissue into the bloodstream for diagnostic use.

In the AI sector, two tasks have been selected, including the development of AI-based multifunctional robotic solutions to support nursing tasks. These projects aim to develop robots that can comprehensively assist the work of medical professionals in clinical settings, with autonomous support for nursing duties as a core feature.

In the semiconductor and display sector, three tasks have been selected, including the development of plating mass production equipment for interposer manufacturing based on multi-size wafers. The advanced semiconductor package market, including high-bandwidth memory (HBM), AI, and high-performance computing, is highly dependent on overseas plating equipment with high uniformity and reliability. The goal of this project is to develop domestic plating mass production equipment capable of handling wafers of various sizes to realize advanced semiconductor packages.

In addition, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups has selected 10 projects in the fields of secondary batteries, mobility, aerospace, and carbon neutrality. Detailed RFPs (Requests for Proposals) for these tasks can be found on the Strategic Technology Bank (operated by the Korea Technology and Information Promotion Agency for SMEs and Scale-up TIPS website), and the ministry plans to continuously plan and add new tasks throughout the year.

Registered tasks will be open for project teams to apply for at any time throughout the year, with applications accepted and evaluated on a rolling basis. Once an application is received, its status will be immediately disclosed on the bank and a grace period will be provided. This year, the ministry plans to select and support 20 companies to carry out DCP projects listed on the Strategic Technology Bank.

DCP Program Reform Measures Announced

At this meeting, the ministry also announced reform measures for the DCP program. First, to identify challenge tasks based on national strategic needs, the ministry will shift the DCP planning foundation from the previous company-centered demand surveys to a strategic technology roadmap-centered approach. In addition, to strengthen the R&D strategic planning function of the Korea Technology and Information Promotion Agency for SMEs, the ministry will integrate the DCP Committee, the Strategic Technology Roadmap Expert Committee, and the Project Manager (PM) group, which were previously dispersed, into a single system.

Next, the ministry will move away from the recommendation system, in which investors discover and recommend promising companies, and will instead adopt a "project team (consortium of companies, investors, and research institutes)" selection method in which investors and research institutes can also be evaluated. Applications and evaluations will be accepted year-round on a rolling basis.

Additionally, the ministry has introduced the Strategic Technology Bank and made all projects fully public. This will allow companies and other stakeholders to sufficiently prepare project execution plans and investment attraction strategies in advance, and is expected to stimulate competition among a diverse range of participants.

The equity investment structure has also been reformed. To meet the increasing funding needs as projects progress to the commercialization stage after R&D, the ministry has shifted to a phased support structure that links equity investment to follow-on investments after government-funded R&D. Accordingly, equity investment will be provided at up to twice the amount of follow-on investment raised by the project team.

PM support will also be strengthened. To ensure that R&D results lead to commercialization, a one-to-one PM will be matched to each project, and the autonomy and accountability of detailed execution will be enhanced.

A "moving target" approach will be applied, allowing development goals to be adjusted in response to market changes. Sector-specific PMs will participate not only in project planning but also in the actual implementation process, monitoring technological and market changes. When necessary, experts in technology, commercialization, law, and IPOs will be matched to provide support.

Minister of SMEs and Startups Oh Youngju stated, "In this era of upheaval, where survival cannot be guaranteed without boldly pursuing innovative goals, the key lies with SMEs and startups equipped with technological prowess, creativity, and innovation. We will actively support the innovation and challenges of SMEs so that they can secure technological sovereignty and competitiveness in the era of global unlimited technology competition."

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