South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT has made a final selection of 15 companies to take part in this year's Global ICT Future Unicorn Development Programme to support the global growth of promising AI and digital innovation firms.

The ministry held a certificate presentation ceremony for the programme on Tuesday at the Lotte Hotel in Seoul.

Now in its seventh year, the programme is a scale-up initiative to support the global growth of promising AI and digital innovation firms and help them become unicorns. It is led by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the National IT Industry Promotion Agency, with cooperation from related agencies including the Korea Credit Guarantee Fund, the Korea Exchange and Seoul Guarantee Insurance.

A total of 104 companies have participated in the programme through last year. A survey of results from 45 companies that took part over the past 3 years found they recorded overseas sales of 15.4 billion won last year, up 40 percent from a year earlier. The survey also showed job creation. Total headcount at participating companies was 2,306, up 8.6 percent from the previous year. About 58 percent of the workforce is aged 34 or younger.

Many of the 15 companies selected this year are firms that have grown through the ministry's early-stage startup support system. Gajet Korea was named an outstanding company last year under the K-Global Project, the integrated brand for the ministry's AI and digital startup support programmes. MobaWheel, CrossHub, AllMyTour and Avis, which advanced to the finals of the 2025 K-Digital Grand Championship, an AI and digital innovation business competition, were also selected for the programme.

The ministry will provide company-tailored support linking overseas expansion into 2 countries. Selected firms will receive tailored programmes through the ministry's overseas expansion hubs, including support to identify local clients and match with global investors.

In addition, companies can receive working-capital guarantee support of up to 5 billion won per firm for 3 years, subject to separate screening and evaluation by the Korea Credit Guarantee Fund. Benefits also include higher guarantee limits from Seoul Guarantee Insurance and a 10 percent discount on guarantee insurance premiums. Companies can also receive support to help them establish themselves on the KOSDAQ market, including a technology special listing briefing by the Korea Exchange and tailored one-on-one consulting. The ministry supported participating companies with guarantee financing totalling 57 billion won last year in cooperation with the Korea Credit Guarantee Fund.

Lee Do-gyu (이도규), director general for ICT Policy at the Ministry of Science and ICT, said many companies that have passed through the programme have emerged as key players in South Korea's ICT industry. He added the ministry will continue to actively support promising domestic ICT companies so they can become top-tier companies leading global markets.