The Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced on the 15th that it is recruiting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to participate in the 2026 Overseas Standard Certification Support Program (second phase). This initiative aims to alleviate the financial burdens SMEs face when obtaining necessary certifications for export to international markets.
The Overseas Standard Certification Support Program is structured to assist SMEs in navigating the complexities of overseas market entry by subsidizing a portion of the expenses associated with obtaining certifications, testing, and consultations mandated by target export countries. This support extends to 572 distinct certifications, including the EU’s CE certification, the U.S. Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL), UL certification, and China’s NMPA approval.
This recruitment effort represents the second round of funding opportunities for this year, following an initial round in January. The Ministry intends to select approximately 180 companies, offering up to 70% of total costs, capped at 100 million KRW based on the previous year's revenue. For the medical equipment sector, the maximum support extends to 150 million KRW, signifying a focused effort to strengthen this critical industry.
Each enterprise may apply for up to four certifications annually. However, companies seeking minor certifications costing less than 35 million KRW may apply without limit, facilitating broader access to necessary certifications.
Soom Jae-yoon, the Director of Global Growth Policy at the Ministry, highlighted that the support program aims to cope with deteriorating export conditions exacerbated by geopolitical conflicts, such as the recent Middle East crisis. He anticipates that this initiative will significantly ease the export cost burdens for SMEs and assist them in penetrating new markets. Furthermore, he emphasized the government’s commitment to enhancing its support for SMEs as they confront various global regulatory challenges, including certification requirements.
