Ministry of SMEs and Startups Opens Applications for 118 'New Super-Gap Startups'

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced on the 22nd that it will launch the 'Super-gap Startup 1000+ Project' in 2025. This project selects deep-tech startups with outstanding technologies in new industry fields and provides focused support for global expansion through technology commercialization, open innovation, and investment attraction.

The Super-gap Project is a five-year initiative starting in 2023 to nurture more than 1,000 deep-tech startups in 10 new industry sectors such as system semiconductors and artificial intelligence (AI), aiming to cultivate them as key players in the future of the national economy and the global market. So far, the Ministry has selected 407 Super-gap startups and has provided long-term focused support through core policy tools such as technology commercialization, collaboration with large corporations, and domestic and international investment attraction programs. Compared to before receiving support, their business environment has improved with a 30.3% increase in sales and a 16.7% increase in cumulative investment, and 12 companies have been listed on KOSDAQ using the technology special listing system during the support period.

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This announcement is for selecting new Super-gap startups through an open track, with a total of 118 companies to be selected. Applications will be accepted from the 23rd of this month until the 20th of next month. The selected Super-gap startups will receive direct funding of up to 1.1 billion KRW per company, including up to 600 million KRW for commercialization funds over three years and up to 500 million KRW for research and development (R&D) funds for up to two years based on company needs and evaluations, and will also receive linked support such as policy funds, guarantees, and exports.

Additionally, research institutes and universities designated as specialized lead organizations with top-level technology performance, support personnel, and equipment in each of the 10 sectors will focus on supporting technology commercialization, open innovation, and global investment attraction to strengthen startups' global expansion. In particular, this year, the ‘LinkUp’ project will be newly established to support market development through demand-based collaboration with anchor institutions such as large corporations, focusing on Super-gap startups in bio-health, future mobility, robotics, and other fields with broad convergence between technology and industry.

Oh Young-joo, Minister of SMEs and Startups, said, “New industries such as AI are innovating the national industrial structure and causing revolutionary changes in all fields, with deep-tech startups at the center.” He added, “Through the Super-gap Project, the Ministry will do its utmost to support innovative deep-tech startups to establish themselves as key players in the global market.”

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