International Joint R&D Program

International Joint R&D Program — Phase 1 Seed

Funds Korean small businesses validating joint research partnerships with overseas research organisations.

International Joint R&D Program Phase 1 (Seed) is administered by TIPA under Korea's Ministry of SMEs and Startups and provides Korean SMEs with a seed grant of KRW 110 million (approximately USD 80,000) to initiate and validate a joint R&D relationship with an overseas partner organisation. The programme is structured as a two-phase pathway: Phase 1 funds the early-stage partnership validation work, and successfully completing Phase 1 is a prerequisite for applying to Phase 2, which provides up to KRW 1.39 billion (approximately USD 1 million) over 2.5 years for full-scale joint research and commercialization. The 2026 programme is active, with applications submitted through the SMTECH and IRIS portals.

Eligible lead applicants are for-profit Korean SMEs under the Small and Medium Enterprise Basic Act that have identified a specific overseas R&D partner — university, research institute, or company — and can articulate a defined joint R&D objective. The programme has been used for partnerships with institutions in the United States (including the University of Illinois), European research organisations, and other countries with Korean SME technology collaboration interests. Non-profits, universities, research organisations, and individuals may not serve as lead applicants, though they may participate as the overseas partner. Award amounts are fixed at KRW 110 million for Phase 1 regardless of sector or technology domain.

Applications are submitted in Korean via SMTECH, with IRIS used for supporting documentation. Specific deadlines for the 2026 Phase 1 cycle were not publicly disclosed in available pre-announcement materials; applicants should check the current SMTECH announcement for exact dates. SMEs preparing applications should secure a letter of intent or formal agreement from their overseas partner before submitting, clearly articulate how Phase 1 outcomes will position the consortium for a Phase 2 application, and verify that the planned collaboration qualifies as genuine joint R&D under TIPA's programme guidelines.