South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT and the Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA) will recruit applicants until May 15 for designation as excellent technologies, products and services to secure competitiveness in information security and revitalise the market.

The designation programme for "excellent information security technologies" introduced in 2018 assesses novelty, originality and commercialisation potential to designate outstanding information security technologies, products and services. Any venture company operating in the information security field can apply. Up to 12 companies will be designated depending on the evaluation results.

Companies designated as excellent information security technologies will receive a ministerial commendation from the science and ICT minister and certain extra points when applying for business support programmes carried out by KISA. They will also receive public-sector market development benefits, including registration with the small and medium-sized enterprise technology market and the Public Procurement Service's innovative products programme, participation in public-related purchase consultation meetings and council general meetings, and support for costs to introduce the products for practical use by public institutions.

Lim Jeong-gyu (임정규), director general for Information Security Network Policy at the Ministry of Science and ICT, said he hopes the call will help identify excellent information security technologies and services from promising domestic companies and serve as an opportunity to raise South Korea's information security competitiveness and digital trust.