Program Overview — Why Now
In April 2026, Korea's Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the Ministry of Environment jointly launched the 'SME CBAM MRV Infrastructure Support Program.' With the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) transition period ending December 2025 and paid certificate obligations beginning in 2026, Korean exporters urgently need Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) capabilities.
The application deadline is April 27, 2026 (Mon) at 18:00 KST, leaving only 13 days from the announcement. Each selected company can receive up to KRW 42 million (70% government + 30% self-funded) covering hardware, software, and verification costs in a single package.
Eligibility and Scale
Target Products (EU CBAM 6 Sectors)
Steel, aluminum, cement, fertilizers, electricity, hydrogenFinished goods plus HS-code-matched intermediate productsQualification Criteria
Direct exporters: SMEs shipping directly to EU importersIndirect exporters: Tier-2 vendors supplying conglomerates that export to the EUMust provide EU export records or contracts from the past 2 yearsSupport Scale
Up to KRW 42M per company (HW 20M + SW 15M + Verification 7M)Approximately 80 companies to be selectedExpected competition ratio: 3–4:1 based on prior yearsDetailed Support Items
Hardware (HW)
Production and utility metering equipment: power meters, gas/steam flow meters, boiler flue gas analyzersSub-metering installation for process-level emission separationIoT gateways and data acquisition devicesSoftware (SW)
Real-time emissions monitoring system deploymentCBAM quarterly report automation tools aligned with EU Commission templatesAPI integration costs with existing ERP/MES systemsVerification (V)
Third-party verification by KAB-accredited domestic verifiersVerification Statement and Embedded Emissions opinion lettersFrom 2026, EU importers will require verified data as mandatoryPre-Application Checklist
Readiness for product-level embedded emissions calculation - Status of process flow diagrams and Bill of Materials (BOM)
- Ability to separate Scope 1 (direct) and Scope 2 (indirect) emissions
Existing data infrastructure integration - Access rights to ERP, energy management (FEMS), and MES data
- Availability of 3-year historical energy consumption records
Alignment with EU importers - Confirmation of buyer-required CBAM Quarterly Report format
- Negotiation on pass-through of CBAM Certificate purchase costs
Post-Program Sustainability Strategy
To avoid a one-off infrastructure build, data reuse pathways must be designed upfront.
ISSB/KSSB disclosure linkage: Mandatory climate disclosure begins 2026 for firms over KRW 2T in assets, expanding gradually. CBAM MRV data directly feeds Scope 1·2 calculations for climate reportingSupply chain due diligence (CSDDD) response: EU CSDDD applies from 2027. Emissions data becomes core evidence for due diligence reportingK-ETS allocation preparation: As Korea's Phase 4 ETS plan (2026–2030) expands, MRV data converts into a tradable data assetHow KITIM Can Help
The Korea Institute of Technology Innovation Management (KITIM) provides end-to-end consulting from pre-diagnosis through post-program operations.
CBAM Applicability Screening: HS-code-based screening against the 6 sectors and indirect export pathway analysisApplication Writing Support: Emissions methodology, MRV system architecture, and verification planningMRV System Design: ERP/MES integration, metering point design, and vendor matchingVerifier Matching: Optimized matching from KAB-accredited verifier pool by industry and scheduleThe deadline is tight. CBAM response is no longer optional — it is a prerequisite for EU market access. Contact a KITIM expert today to secure both the KRW 42 million support opportunity and a durable foundation for sustainable export competitiveness.
