South Korea is scaling up its deep-tech ambitions. The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) has introduced the 2026 Tremendous-Hole Startup Mission, which is able to fund 120 high-potential startups throughout twelve rising industries — from AI and semiconductors to fusion power and robotics. The transfer reinforces the federal government’s imaginative and prescient of positioning Korea as a worldwide hub for deep-tech innovation and industrial transformation.
MSS Launches 2026 Tremendous-Hole Mission: ₩2.2 Billion Help for Deep-Tech Startups
The Ministry of SMEs and Startups has revealed its plan to open purposes for the 2026 Tremendous-Hole Startup Mission on December 29, 2025, with the decision interval operating till January 23, 2026.
This system will choose 120 startups within the first spherical and ultimately help 200 deep-tech ventures below two phases — Core-DIPS (fundamental help) and World-DIPS (follow-up help) — every designed to strengthen Korea’s industrial competitiveness in next-generation applied sciences.
Every chosen startup will obtain as much as KRW 1.2 billion in direct help, combining KRW 600 million for commercialization and KRW 600 million for R&D over a complete of five-year interval. Startups that obtain robust leads to gross sales, employment, or funding will qualify for as much as KRW 1 billion in further international scale-up funding over two years.
The ministry may also join beneficiaries with nationwide coverage instruments, together with know-how ensures, export vouchers, and enterprise coverage loans to speed up market readiness.
From 10 Industries to 12 Future Progress Fields
First launched in 2023, the Tremendous-Hole Startup Mission has grow to be the federal government’s flagship deep-tech acceleration program. It has already nurtured 604 startups, serving to produce three international unicorns — together with FuriosaAI — and 14 KOSDAQ-listed firms reminiscent of Nota.
Constructing on this file, the 2026 version expands its scope in keeping with Korea’s six strategic industries and twelve future innovation sectors, reflecting the nationwide “super-innovation economic system” agenda.
The six strategic classes (A–F) and their twelve focus areas are:
- A: Synthetic intelligence, semiconductors, quantum & cybersecurity, robotics, mobility
- B: Bio and new drug improvement, healthcare
- C: Content material trade
- D: Protection, aerospace, and marine know-how
- E: Inexperienced know-how, power, and nuclear fusion
- F: Sensors and manufacturing processes
By way of this new construction, the MSS goals to direct enterprise capital and R&D pipelines towards high-impact applied sciences that would outline Korea’s competitiveness within the subsequent decade.
Deep-Tech Startups as Industrial Catalysts
Minister Han Seong-sook emphasised that deep-tech innovation will not be merely an extension of startup creativity however a transformative drive reshaping industrial constructions.
The minister stated,
“Deep-tech goes past concepts — it redefines how industries evolve. By way of the Tremendous-Hole Mission, we’ll make sure that Korea’s most modern startups grow to be international leaders in markets starting from AI to wash power.”
Han added that the venture will strengthen public-private collaboration, signaling a continued nationwide deal with frontier applied sciences and their commercialization.
Specialised Packages: Tech-Up, Hyperlink-Up, and Increase-Up
Alongside direct monetary help, MSS will function three thematic initiatives to make sure startups develop into global-scale enterprises:
- Tech-Up Program: Promotes fast commercialization by integrating exterior applied sciences with startups’ in-house R&D. This contains deciding on 10 new fabless semiconductor startups, every receiving as much as KRW 250 million for prototype manufacturing and IP design.
- Hyperlink-Up Program: Facilitates open innovation partnerships between startups and huge firms, with a deal with domain-specific AI transformation, vertical AI, and huge language mannequin purposes.
- Increase-Up Program: Strengthens international growth entry to worldwide traders by the Tremendous-Hole Enterprise Capital Membership, organizing funding roadshows throughout the U.S., Japan, and Europe.
Korea’s Deep-Tech Technique Matures with Tremendous-Hole Startup Mission
Past its seemingly one other startup funding program, Korea’s Tremendous-Hole initiative represents the nation’s strategic engine for deep-tech self-sufficiency at a time when international provide chains and technological ecosystems are quickly evolving.
The deal with sectors like quantum computing, nuclear fusion, and protection tech indicators a shift from short-cycle software program startups towards hard-tech ventures that may anchor nationwide competitiveness within the AI and post-semiconductor period.
For traders, the venture additionally expands alternatives inside Korea’s deep-tech ecosystem. By linking R&D, commercialization, and international funding networks, it creates a structured pipeline for scale-up and exit — a vital lacking piece in Korea’s enterprise capital panorama till lately.
Korea’s Deep-Tech Rebalance for 2026 and Past
The 2026 Tremendous-Hole Mission marks a decisive step in Korea’s deep-tech evolution. It demonstrates how public coverage can synchronize innovation, capital, and industrial transition towards long-term technological sovereignty.
As Korea enters 2026, the success of this program is not going to solely decide the trajectory of the nation’s AI and semiconductor management, but in addition form how its startups compete globally in inexperienced power, protection, and next-generation computing.
If executed successfully, the venture might place Korea among the many world’s main deep-tech ecosystems — the place startup innovation, industrial coverage, and enterprise capital converge to drive the applied sciences of tomorrow.
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