H2 2026 R&D May New Call Schedule
Korea's government R&D programs follow an annual cycle where H1 calls (January) wrap up agreements by April, and H2 new project calls launch from May. Per the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) integrated announcement, key programs—Startup Growth R&D (Stepping Stone/Strategic), SME Technology Innovation, Scale-up TIPS, and Public-Private Joint Commercialization—will be announced sequentially starting mid-May 2026.
The most consequential change: starting H2 2026, at least 50% of major R&D budget must be allocated to firms outside the Seoul Capital Area (SCA). MSS has progressively expanded the non-SCA quota under regional balance policy, and the 50% threshold is now codified. For SCA-based firms, this effectively doubles the competition ratio, making differentiated strategy from the announcement date essential.
Non-SCA Bonus Points and Applicable Programs
Flagship programs applying non-SCA bonuses include Scale-up TIPS (2–3 pts), Public-Private Joint Commercialization (3 pts), and Startup Growth R&D Stepping Stone/Strategic (2 pts). Across all MSS R&D programs, non-SCA firms receive 2–5% of total evaluation score as bonus.
Non-SCA status is determined by:
SCA-based firms should actively pursue consortium formation with non-SCA partners. When a non-SCA firm leads as principal and the SCA firm joins as participant, the entire project qualifies for non-SCA bonus. Designing the principal's budget share above 50% is the safe approach.
Pre-Announcement Preparation Checklist
With only 3–4 weeks between announcement and submission deadline, preparation determines selection.
1. Eligibility Check
2. Technology Readiness Level (TRL) Diagnosis
3. Four Core Elements of Proposal
4. Principal-Level Bonus Items
How KITIM Supports You
KITIM provides end-to-end consulting for the May call cycle:
The 50% non-SCA mandate has changed the rules of H2 2026 R&D. The 4–6 weeks before announcement is the golden window. Completing eligibility checks, TRL diagnosis, and consortium strategy in advance is the prerequisite for an immediate May response. Schedule a free consultation with KITIM's expert group to design your optimized R&D program match and winning strategy.