Overview of the Regional Innovation Leading Company R&D Support Program
The Korean government continues to expand the Regional Innovation Leading Company R&D Support Program. In 2026, the program targets allocating over 50% of selected companies to non-capital regions, with a 2-point evaluation bonus for non-capital region enterprises.
Program Objectives
Cultivating regional technology hubs: Building technology innovation ecosystemsLinking to region-specific industries: Prioritizing R&D projects aligned with strategic industriesJob creation linkage: Preferential treatment for projects expanding regional employmentEligibility
SMEs and mid-sized companies headquartered outside the capital regionCompanies with certified corporate research labs or R&D departmentsPreference for companies with annual revenue of KRW 1 billion or moreBonus points for forming joint research consortiums with regional universitiesFunding Scale
Up to KRW 300 million per project, with up to 2-year durationCompany contribution: 25% for SMEs, 40% for mid-sized companiesTotal 2026 budget: approximately KRW 120 billion (15% increase YoY)Evaluation Criteria
Evaluation consists of Technical Merit (40), Business Viability (30), and Policy Alignment (30).
Strategies
Maximize alignment with regional strategic industriesBuild industry-academia-research consortiumsQuantify regional employment impactLeverage the non-capital region bonusKITIM provides specialized consulting for regional R&D support programs, supporting the entire process from analysis to presentation coaching.
