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PoC Programs for Korea-Registered Startups

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PoC Programs for Korea-Registered Startups

Already registered a company in Korea? Good news: you just unlocked a second set of programs.


Previously, we covered programs for foreign founders entering Korea. This part is for startups with a Korean business registration. Some of these programs fund PoCs with Korean companies and public bodies, while others pay for you to test your product overseas. Most have strict eligibility rules, so check the details before you get excited.


Glossary

  • PoC (Proof of Concept): A small real-world trial that shows a product works for a specific customer before a bigger deal is signed.
  • Open innovation: When big companies or public bodies work with outside startups to solve problems, instead of building everything themselves.
  • Prototype: An early working version of a product, made for testing.
  • Top-down / Bottom-up: In top-down, the organization sets the problem. In bottom-up, the startup proposes the idea.
  • Deep tech: Startups built on hard science or engineering, such as AI, robotics, semiconductors or biotech.
  • IR (Investor Relations): Pitching your startup to investors to raise money.
  • Commercialization funding: Government money that helps turn a product into something people can buy.


PoCs inside Korea


Public-Private Open Innovation

This is the main channel for PoCs inside Korea. It connects startups with large and mid-sized companies and public bodies. Startups receive up to ₩140 million for PoCs and prototypes [1]. After an extra budget in 2026, the program doubled to support 120 startups [1].


Public Data Collaboration

This program helps startups use government data to improve public services. Public bodies can post problems (top-down), or startups can propose ideas using data that hasn't been released yet (bottom-up) [2]. Around 20 startups get up to ₩100 million each [2]. The 2026 application window closed on October 6 [3].


KOSME Deep Tech Startup Academy

This is a training academy for Korean deep-tech founders, not a dedicated matchmaking program. Its 2026 advanced track admitted 198 startups [4]. It does run PoC meetups with big companies. One example is a September 2026 event with six companies from AI, telecom, cloud, semiconductors and other sectors [4].


PoCs overseas


Innopolis Global PoC

This program is run by the Innopolis Foundation. It is only open to companies located in Korea's R&D Special Zones and founded within the last 10 years [5]. The top 5 companies receive up to about ₩25 million in PoC support [5]. In 2026, it expanded from North America and Europe to include Asia [6].


Super Gap Global IR & PoC

This is only open to startups already selected for Korea's Super Gap (DIPS) deep-tech project [7]. At the June 2026 Tokyo edition, 14 Korean startups met 12 large Japanese companies and 13 investors [7]. Participating companies included Honda and SoftBank [7], as well as Daikin [8].

Earlier Singapore editions focused on pitching to investors, not PoCs with big companies [9]. The 2026 program runs through Silicon Valley, Tokyo and Europe [7].


Changgu Program

This partnership between MSS, Google Play and KISED has supported Korean mobile app and game startups since 2019 [10]. Each round selects about 100 companies. Selected startups get up to ₩200 million in commercialization funding and support for overseas PoC projects [11]. Startups must be under 7 years old, or under 10 years for AI-based app and game developers [10].


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Registering your company was the easy part. Staying compliant is the part nobody warns you about. Many government programs ask for proof that your taxes and insurance are paid up, and one missed filing can knock you out of the running.


We get it. You're already learning how to run a startup, and Korean business admin is a whole second job. VizaBridge Corp helps foreign founders keep their admin in order, and we connect you with partner law firms when you need legal advice. That way, when the next program opens, you're ready to apply.


Sources

[1] Asia Economy (Korean), MSS expands Public-Private Open Innovation (May 2026):

https://view.asiae.co.kr/article/2026051907321427763

[2] KDI Economic Information Center (Korean), MSS press release on Public Data Utilization Support (Sep 2026): https://eiec.kdi.re.kr/policy/materialView.do?num=286820

[3] Money Today (Korean), Public data open innovation startup recruitment (Sep 2026): https://www.mt.co.kr/future/2026/09/14/2026091411300932746

[4] Herald Corporation, KOSME Deep Tech Startup Academy technology exchange (Sep 2026):

https://biz.heraldcorp.com/article/10871999

[5] Innoforest (Korean), 2026 R&D Special Zone Global PoC recruitment:

https://www.innoforest.co.kr/growth-bridge/OI00000566/2026년-연구개발특구-협력거점-기반-글로벌-PoC-지원-참여기업-모집

[6] Kuki News (Korean), Innopolis Global PoC and Asia expansion (Jan 2026):

https://www.kukinews.com/article/view/kuk202601220136

[7] Herald Corporation (Korean), Super Gap Global IR & PoC in Tokyo (Jun 2026):

https://www.heraldk.com/article/2026062815484381282

[8] IT Donga via Daum (Korean), SBA on 2026 Super Gap Tokyo program (Jul 2026):

https://v.daum.net/v/20260721183604568

[9] Financial News (Korean), Super Gap Startup Singapore IR (Jun 2024):

https://www.fnnews.com/news/202406211359435217

[10] Google Korea Blog (Korean), Changgu Cohort 8 recruitment (Feb 2026):

https://blog.google/intl/ko-kr/company-news/outreach-initiatives/2026changgooapplication/

[11] Eopla (Korean), 2026 Changgu Cohort 8 program details:

https://eopla.net/magazines/39901


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