The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT; Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Bae Kyung-hoon) announced on the 9th that it will pursue the ‘2026 Designation of Top-Performing Research Institute Companies by Growth Stage (Rising Star and Star)’ to systematically foster research institute companies within Special Research and Development Zones according to their growth stages. This year, around 10 Rising Star firms and 2 Star firms will be selected, with applications accepted from September 9 to October 2.
 [코리안투데이] A full view of the Ministry of Science and ICT building © 장형임 기자 |
A research institute company is an enterprise established within a Special R&D Zone by a public research institution — such as a government-funded research institute, a science and technology institute, or a university — which invests at least 10 percent of its capital to directly commercialize the technologies it holds. Since the system was introduced in 2006, it has become a leading commercialization model that connects public technologies to the market, and as of August, 1,434 companies have been designated and are operating across 19 metropolitan and small-scale special zones nationwide.
As companies recognized for their competitiveness in the global market continue to emerge — including Kolmar BNH, the very first research institute company — expectations are growing that the growth of research institute companies can drive regional innovation-led growth and, in turn, enhance national competitiveness. Accordingly, MSIT has decided to strengthen its support system so that outstanding research institute companies do not merely stop at establishment but receive support suited to their growth stage and develop into innovative firms based on cutting-edge technology, that is, deep-tech companies.
The core of the initiative is to brand research institute companies as either ‘Rising Star Research Institute Companies’ or ‘Star Research Institute Companies’ according to their growth stage, and to provide tailored support required at each stage. Rising Stars are companies with high growth potential that increase sales and employment and attract investment on the strength of excellent technologies and products; firms whose average sales over the most recent three business years total at least 1 billion won, or whose annual average sales have grown by 15 percent or more, may apply. Around 10 firms will be designated this year through a competitive evaluation via open recruitment.
Star Research Institute Companies are firms that have already achieved business results such as sales and investment attraction and are expanding their operations at home and abroad. Among firms whose average sales over the most recent three business years total at least 5 billion won and whose annual average sales have grown by 20 percent or more, around 2 will be selected this year following an eligibility review. In addition, firms that have grown to the level of an initial public offering (IPO) will be designated as ‘Honorary Research Institute Companies’ and utilized as anchor companies of the special zones, with a related notice to be issued separately during October.
Support does not end with the designation of top-performing firms but is subdivided by growth stage. Rising Star firms will be provided with research and business development (R&BD) for early-stage technology scale-up, intellectual property strategy consulting, follow-on investment linkage, and overseas investor relations (IR) sessions. They will also enjoy priority support for the Special Zone Foundation’s projects, priority recommendation for private follow-on investment and special zone fund programs, and exemption from the Public Procurement Service’s technology evaluation. Star firms will be linked with large-scale R&BD, demonstration and certification, regulatory improvements tied to regulatory sandboxes, and programs for growth and investment recovery (EXIT) such as IPOs and mergers and acquisitions — supporting a full-fledged global expansion.
MSIT also plans to spread outstanding growth cases through exchange, mentoring, and open innovation among designated firms, and to raise the external recognition of the research institute company brand by promoting the firms and their products at major domestic and international events.
Kim Sung-soo, Director-General for Research and Development at MSIT, said, ‘To enhance the technological competitiveness of research institute companies, it is important not only to produce excellent research results but also to grow them into companies that can compete in the market,’ adding, ‘Through the designation of top-performing research institute companies by growth stage, we will strengthen the growth ladder so that companies utilizing public technologies can receive the support they need at the right time during their growth process.’ He emphasized, ‘We will continuously discover Rising Star and Star research institute companies and spread success stories, actively supporting research institute companies so that they can grow into deep-tech firms that lead domestic and overseas markets on the basis of public technologies.’
MSIT will accept applications from September 9 to October 2, and after screening, will award designation certificates during December, continuing support suited to each growth stage after designation. In that it broadens the channel through which public research outcomes flow into regional economies and industrial sites and translate into tangible sales and jobs, the establishment of this brand system holds meaning for both technology-holding companies and the citizens who will enjoy the benefits of that technology.
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