Korea Scale-up TIPS

Korea Scale-up TIPS is the growth-stage arm of the TIPS system under the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and KISED. It extends the same private-investor-first model into a larger R&D package for startups that have already moved beyond the earliest phase. The program offers up to KRW 3 billion in R&D support, with 2026 capacity expanded to 300 projects from 152. It is an annual grant route for for-profit Korean SMEs that have already passed through TIPS, and it is set around TRL 5 to TRL 7 with a 33 percent match requirement. At least half of the projects must go to companies outside the capital region, which makes geography part of the selection logic rather than a side note. This route suits teams that need serious development capital, have a credible technical team, and can carry a larger plan without losing pace. Companies outside the Seoul metro area have a built-in structural advantage, but all applicants still need enough private backing and delivery discipline to justify a larger public commitment.

Each grant below is a distinct funding opportunity with its own eligibility, scope, and deliverables.