The Ministry of SMEs and Startups has launched a preliminary phase of deep tech research and development projects targeting advanced technology fields such as semiconductors, small modular reactors (SMRs), and space.

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced on the 24th that it selected seven preliminary research project teams for the 'Ecosystem Innovation Deep Tech Challenge Project (DCP)' and held a launch ceremony at the Seoul Startup Venture Campus.

A total of 206 consortia applied for this project, resulting in a competition rate of approximately 41 to 1. Seven consortia were selected for preliminary research following evaluations by a panel of judges composed of technology, management, and investment experts, as well as a 'citizen expert evaluation panel.'

The 'Ecosystem Innovation DCP' is a research and development program in which small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), venture companies, large corporations, universities, and research institutions participate jointly. It is structured to provide R&D funding of up to 20 billion won over a maximum of four years, linked with an initial investment of at least 3 billion won from private venture capital (VC) firms.

The seven project teams selected this time will conduct proof of concept (PoC) and proof of marketability (PoM) over the next four months. Based on the verification results, five final projects are scheduled to be selected.

The fields subject to preliminary research include semiconductors, small modular reactors (SMRs), space data centers, all-solid-state batteries, displays, biohealth, and space medicine.

The major tasks consisted of a space microgravity-based pharmaceutical manufacturing platform, semiconductor thermal processing technology, SMR-based energy systems, antibody therapeutic platforms, perovskite displays, all-solid-state battery manufacturing technology, and satellite-based data centers.

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups plans to select five final projects through preliminary research and provide full-scale support. In addition, it is considering providing follow-up support to candidate companies that were not selected for the preliminary research through a separate program.

Noh Yong-seok, First Vice Minister of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, stated, “We plan to invest up to 20 billion won over four years in projects finally selected after preliminary research,” adding, “We plan to provide support by considering both technological achievements and commercialization potential simultaneously.”