The government is launching a full-scale project to foster 'super small and medium-sized enterprises' to secure key companies in the global supply chain.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced this on the 20th at the 'Super B Project Field Meeting' hosted by the Minister at IOTECHNICS Co., Ltd. Major domestic small and medium-sized enterprises such as PI Advanced Materials and Jahwa Electronics attended the meeting.

A 'Super Eul Company' refers to a market-leading company that possesses unique, inimitable technologies and has secured a key position in the global supply chain. ASML of the Netherlands, the world's only manufacturer of extreme ultraviolet exposure equipment, was selected as a representative Super Eul company.

It has been reported that the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy plans to focus on supporting domestic small and medium-sized enterprises to grow into global super companies through △Super R&D △Super Pass △Super Growth Package.

First, we support dedicated research and development (R&D) to develop core technologies for the global supply chain. The 'Super R&D Promotion Committee', comprised of the top experts in technology, market, and investment, evaluates the R&D and growth strategy roadmaps of companies and selects target companies. For selected companies, integrated R&D will be supported for 7 years in the following order: prior technology (2 years) → commercialization technology (3 years) → follow-up technology (2 years).

In order to achieve early commercialization of R&D and secure global markets, we also operate a Super Pass that links patent, standard, and certification global demand company discovery and export support projects.

In particular, we will strengthen support for securing patents in the three countries of the US, EU, and Japan, and give priority to overseas mass production performance evaluations targeting global demand companies. We will also provide customized export support projects such as KOTRA’s market research and the Global Partnering (GP) Center.

In addition, a super growth package including finance, investment, taxation, and infrastructure will be prepared. While promoting the creation of a 25-year super growth fund, it was announced that it plans to expand the growth base of super companies by expanding tax and small business specialized complex test beds and digital material development services.

Minister Ahn Deok-geun said, “The DNA of super small and medium-sized enterprises is ingrained with bold challenges, open innovation, and continuous investment,” and emphasized, “We will not spare bold and swift support so that our small and medium-sized enterprises can grow into core companies in the global supply chain.”

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy plans to collect a wide range of opinions from the industry, experts, etc., discover additional measures, and announce the ‘Super Small Business Growth Support Strategy’ at the ‘Small Business Competitiveness Enhancement Committee’ in the fourth quarter of this year.