The Ministry of Science and ICT will support technology development, investment and global expansion for research institute companies in R&D special zones, tailored to their growth stage.

The Ministry of Science and ICT said on Tuesday it will 추진 the '2026 designation of outstanding research institute companies by growth stage.'

A research institute company is a firm set up in an R&D special zone by investing at least 10 percent of its capital to directly commercialise technology held by public research institutes or universities. The ministry will designate companies as either 'rising star research institute companies' or 'star research institute companies' depending on their growth stage and provide stage-based support programmes.

The ministry will accept applications through next month on Oct. 2 and select the final designees after screening. It plans to award certificates in December.

Rising star research institute companies target firms with high growth potential, such as those increasing revenue and employment based on technology and products and attracting investment. Companies can apply if their average revenue over the most recent three fiscal years is at least 1 billion won or if their average annual revenue increased by at least 15 percent. The ministry plans to designate about 10 companies this year.

Star research institute companies are firms expanding business into domestic and overseas markets based on business results such as revenue and investment attraction. The ministry will designate about 2 companies from among those with average revenue of at least 5 billion won over the most recent three fiscal years and average annual revenue growth of at least 20 percent.

Support will also differ by growth stage. For rising star companies, the ministry will support commercialisation-linked research and development (R&BD) for early-stage technology scale-up, intellectual property strategy consulting, links to follow-on investment and overseas investor briefings.

For star companies, it plans to support global market entry and scale-up by linking programmes for growth and investment recovery, including large-scale R&BD, demonstration and certification, and initial public offerings (IPO) and mergers and acquisitions (M&A).

The ministry will support exchanges among designated companies, mentoring and open innovation. It will also 추진 promotion of companies and products by using major events at home and abroad.

Kim Seong-su (김성수), director general for research and development at the ministry, said, "We will strengthen the growth ladder so that companies using public technology can receive the support they need in a timely manner during their growth process through the designation of outstanding research institute companies by growth stage."