What Is the AI Voucher Program?
The AI Voucher Program, administered by NIPA (National IT Industry Promotion Agency), is Korea's flagship support scheme for AI adoption. It provides SMEs and mid-sized companies with vouchers covering a substantial share of the cost of building or integrating an AI solution tailored to their business needs. Companies select a qualified supplier from NIPA's certified supplier pool to develop the solution, and the government reimburses much of that cost through the voucher. In 2026, roughly 130 projects will be selected, with the support ceiling raised to as much as KRW 200 million per company — enough to fund a genuine AI transformation initiative.
What's New in 2026
The biggest change this year is a restructuring of the program's tracks. The previously separate Healthcare track has been folded into the General track, now renamed "General (including Healthcare)," which will account for roughly 80 of the total awards. The program now runs across four tracks: General (including Healthcare), AI Semiconductor, Small Business, and Global. Hospitals, veterinary clinics, and public health centers can now apply for AI diagnostics, imaging analysis, or patient management solutions under the General track — effectively lowering the barrier to entry for healthcare-related applicants.
Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants are domestic SMEs and mid-sized companies registered as corporations in Korea; sole proprietorships are not eligible. Hospitals, veterinary clinics, public health centers, and small merchants can apply either through a dedicated track or within the General track, and a Global track is available for companies preparing to expand overseas. However, companies headquartered abroad, or Korean corporations with 50% or more foreign ownership, are excluded — applicants should verify their ownership structure before applying.
Application Process and Timeline
The program follows four stages: ① public announcement → ② recruitment of the supplier pool → ③ demand-supply matching support → ④ evaluation and selection of proposed projects. After the announcement, applicant companies search the registered supplier pool for a partner suited to their project, jointly draft a business plan, and undergo evaluation. Which supplier a company partners with, and how persuasively the business plan quantifies expected outcomes — such as productivity gains or cost savings — is often the decisive factor in selection.
Application Strategy and KITIM Consulting Support
Given the program's high competition, simply stating an intent to "adopt AI" is rarely enough to secure funding. Applicants need to clearly connect their specific business challenges to the proposed AI solution and select a supplier with a proven track record. The business plan should also include concrete before-and-after performance metrics, a realistic co-funding plan, and a clear post-project utilization strategy to convince reviewers.
Drawing on its consulting experience in AI and digital transformation, KITIM (Korea Institute of Technology Innovation Management) supports companies through the entire process — from developing a tailored supplier-matching strategy to drafting the business plan and designing quantitative performance indicators. If your company is considering applying for the 2026 AI Voucher Program, KITIM's expert consulting can help sharpen your application and maximize your chances of selection.