What is the Jump-Up Linked R&D Program?
The Jump-Up Linked R&D Program, newly launched by Korea's Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) in 2026, is a strategic R&D funding channel for outstanding SMEs aspiring to grow into global mid-sized enterprises. It targets the 100 leading companies selected for the flagship Jump-Up Program, providing additional R&D funding specifically dedicated to new business development.
Selection size: 5 companies in H1 2026Funding: Up to 1 billion KRW over 2 years (R&D costs)Purpose: Secure new-business R&D capital + accelerate transition to global mid-sized enterpriseNote: Provided separately from the Jump-Up open voucher (2.5B KRW/year)The key difference from existing R&D programs is its focus on "new business transformation." Only R&D projects targeting new markets or technology domains—not extensions of current core business—are eligible.
Linkage Structure with the Jump-Up Program
Selection into the main Jump-Up Program is a prerequisite. Understanding the staged structure is essential to designing an accurate entry strategy.
Stage 1: Jump-Up Program Selection
3-year open voucher of 2.5B KRW/year (7.5B total)Discretionary use for consulting, marketing, certification, technology adoption2025 cohorts 1 & 2: 531 applicants → 198 passed Stage 1Stage 2: Linked R&D Eligibility Granted
Only Jump-Up 1st & 2nd cohort selectees may applyRestricted to new-business R&D projectsThree target sectors: Advanced Manufacturing & Materials / ICT & Digital / Eco-friendly Smart InfrastructureIn effect, Jump-Up Program selection itself serves as the "pass" into the R&D track, so applicants must design new-business concepts with linked R&D in mind from the very start.
Eligibility and Evaluation Points
Basic Eligibility
Companies selected in Jump-Up cohorts 1 or 2 (out of 198)Revenue range of 40–300B KRW (pre-mid-sized stage) recommendedBonus points for 3-year revenue CAGR, export ratio, and innovation track recordCore Evaluation Criteria
New Business Strategic Plan — synergy logic with existing business + market entry rationaleGlobal Expansion Roadmap — target countries, certifications, partnership strategyTechnology Innovation Capability — patents, corporate R&D centers, core talentCommercialization KPIs — time-to-revenue within 2 years, 5-year cumulative revenue targetThe weakest area in practice is the global expansion roadmap. Domestic-only companies suddenly claiming "30% export share within 5 years" lose credibility, so securing local partner MOUs or market research data in advance is critical.
Key Strategies for the Proposal
1. Quantify Synergy Between New and Existing Business
Use current revenue/profit to demonstrate R&D investment capacitySpecify how shared resources (processes, sales channels, talent) contribute to the new businessUse concrete figures like "30% of initial new-business revenue secured via existing customer data"2. TAM/SAM/SOM Market Analysis
TAM (Total Addressable Market): global market size, CAGRSAM (Serviceable Available Market): accessible geographies and segmentsSOM (Serviceable Obtainable Market): 2- and 5-year market share targetsCiting sources (Statista, IDC, KOTRA, etc.) is essential3. Two-Year R&D Milestones
Year 1: Core technology development + prototypeYear 2: Validation + certification + production readinessTabulate quarterly deliverables (papers, patents, prototypes, revenue)4. Commercialization KPIs
Revenue generation within 1 year of R&D completionCumulative revenue of 5B+ KRW over 3 years5+ new hiresAvailable Package Support
The true value of the Linked R&D Program lies in its triple package, not as a standalone subsidy.
Open Voucher: 7.5B KRW over 3 years (consulting/marketing/certification)Linked R&D: 1B KRW over 2 years (new business tech development)Integrated Export Voucher: up to 500M KRW over 3 years (global expansion)Mother Fund Matching: preferential investment for Jump-Up selecteesPolicy Loans: linkage with KOSME New Growth Foundation FundLeveraging all five channels yields up to 2.5B KRW in government/policy financing over 3 years—covering R&D, marketing, and global expansion in a single integrated package.
Lessons from Failed Applications
Common patterns among rejected Jump-Up 1st-cohort applicants:
New business too detached from existing capabilities ("competence gap")Abstract global roadmap ("expand exports" without specifics)Vague R&D milestones (only prototype timeline specified)Open voucher plan disconnected from R&D narrativeIn contrast, selected companies wove open voucher → R&D → export voucher into a single coherent storyline.
How KITIM Can Help
The Korea Institute of Technology Innovation Management (KITIM) offers an integrated consulting package for companies preparing simultaneously for the Jump-Up Program and Linked R&D.
Jump-Up Selection Strategy: self-diagnosis → new business definition → proposal writingLinked R&D Advisory: new business design, TAM/SAM/SOM, milestone architectureCommercialization Roadmap: global expansion, certification, investment linkagePackage Design: integrated scenarios across open voucher, R&D, and export voucherAs a newly launched 2026 track with limited precedent, the Linked R&D Program is one of the programs where pre-consultation delivers the greatest value. [Request a consultation](/contact) today to begin with a fit-assessment for your company.
