A cooperative system that combines research equipment from technoparks with specialized personnel from universities to resolve technological difficulties faced by local small and medium-sized enterprises and link them to commercialization is set to begin full operation. It is structured to provide step-by-step support, ranging from shared equipment and technical consulting to R&D project planning, and is interpreted as an attempt to fill the gaps in connectivity within the regional innovation ecosystem.

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (Minister Han Seong-sook) announced on the 30th that it held a launch meeting for the "2026 Innovation Growth Cooperation Support Project Based on Technopark Equipment Utilization" at Daejeon Tipstown on July 1.

The Korea Technology Information Promotion Agency for SMEs was appointed as the specialized agency, while the Chungnam Technopark & KAIST consortium and the Jeonbuk Technopark & Jeonju University consortium were selected as the operating agencies.

In the meantime, local small and medium-sized enterprises have struggled to secure specialized equipment and technical support necessary for product improvement or entry into new businesses.

It was difficult to find suitable equipment and experts, and there were limitations in connecting test and analysis results to actual technology development.

Although the Technopark also possessed research equipment and experience in supporting companies, the cooperative system to continuously connect university experts with the technological demands of companies was insufficient.

This project is characterized by the formation of a consortium between a technopark and a university to fill such structural gaps, establishing a consistent support pathway ranging from diagnosing technical problems to joint use of equipment, technical consulting, technical verification, and R&D project planning.

Starting this July, the two consortia will each operate equipment utilization, prototype production, process improvement, performance verification, testing and certification, and expert technical consulting programs for approximately 30 promising small and medium-sized enterprises in the region.

At the meeting, the two consortia announced their plans for the second half of the year, and participating companies shared opinions on on-site technical challenges and the direction of program operations.

Hwang Young-ho, Director General of Technology Innovation Policy at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, stated, “Cooperation partners capable of resolving companies’ technological challenges and jointly promoting commercialization are local [regional] "It is of the utmost importance for the innovation and growth of SMEs," he stated, adding, "We will analyze the results of this project and actively reflect them in the 'Industry-Academic-Research Collaboration Program (K-ILP),' which is currently being planned as a national agenda project."