Gyeonggi-do Recruiting Participants for the 2026 Support Project for Promising SMEs in the Pet Industry

Province to Recruit Six SMEs in Gyeonggi-do
for the "Commercialization Support" Category by the 23rd

Gyeonggi-do is recruiting co-implementing agencies to participate in the "Support Project for Fostering Promising SMEs in the Pet Industry."

2026 Support Guide for Fostering Small and Medium Enterprises in the Pet Industry. Provided by Gyeonggi-do.

The "Support Project for Fostering Promising SMEs in the Pet Industry" is the first initiative of its kind to be promoted by a local government, launched by Gyeonggi-do to strengthen the competitiveness of promising small and medium-sized enterprises in the pet industry. The project is divided into "Commercialization Support," which assists SMEs with prototype production and design development, and "Market Expansion Support," which assists with online and offline marketing.

The recruitment target for the "Commercialization Support" category is small and medium-sized enterprises in the pet industry located in the province, engaged in pet-related manufacturing or knowledge-based services, with either their headquarters or factory in Gyeonggi-do and at least three years of business history. Among these, six companies will be selected and supported.

Commercialization support will cover one of the following for new prototype development: mold production, mock-up production, or design development. Up to 80% of the required costs (excluding VAT) will be subsidized, with a maximum support amount of 15 million won.

Within the market expansion support area, the recruitment target for "Online Marketing Support" co-implementing agencies is corporations or organizations that operate domestic online distribution platforms. Gyeonggi-do plans to run an online special exhibition dedicated to small and medium-sized pet industry enterprises in the province on the selected distribution platforms. For participating companies, the province plans to support sales growth and brand awareness enhancement by providing discount coupons and promotional activities. SMEs that will take part in the online special exhibition will be recruited separately after the co-implementing agencies are selected.

In addition, the target for support as co-implementing agencies for the "Gyeonggi-do Joint Pavilion (Exhibition) Support" category is corporations or organizations engaged in exhibition and convention businesses that operate domestic pet fairs. The province plans to collaborate with the selected entities to set up a Gyeonggi-do pet industry SME joint pavilion at pet fairs, and to actively support overseas market expansion for participating companies by providing opportunities for export consultations. SMEs that will join the joint pavilion will also be recruited separately after the co-implementing agencies are selected.

This year, unlike in previous years, Gyeonggi-do itself will directly invite applications from entities to participate in the project, instead of the Gyeonggi Business & Science Accelerator. The application period runs until 6:00 p.m. on February 13 (Friday) for "Online Marketing Support" and "Gyeonggi-do Joint Pavilion Support," and until 6:00 p.m. on February 23 (Monday) for "Commercialization Support."

Detailed information, including selection criteria, can be found on the Gyeonggi-do Provincial Government website under Notices and Announcements, and applications can be submitted through the Local Subsidy Management System under Public Contest Projects.

Meanwhile, to vitalize the pet industry, Gyeonggi-do has been implementing the Support Project for Fostering Promising SMEs in the Pet Industry together with a startup discovery and startup support program in the pet industry since 2016, and over the past 10 years it has supported 742 startups and small and medium-sized enterprises in the pet industry.

Byun Heejung, Director of the Pet Industry Division of Gyeonggi-do, said, "The pet industry is a sector with significant growth potential, and we will spare no effort in supporting SMEs to strengthen their technological competitiveness and expand their sales channels," adding, "In particular, this year we will operate a Gyeonggi-do joint pavilion at pet fairs to effectively showcase the products of pet-related companies in the province to domestic and overseas consumers and buyers."

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