Gov't Selects First 'Innovation Premier 1000', Fostering 509 Innovative Firms

The Financial Services Commission and 12 industrial ministries have collaborated to finalize the selection of 509 'Innovation Premier 1000' companies, which will lead the innovative growth of the national economy. This system, introduced last December, integrates existing programs such as 'National Representatives of Innovative Companies 1000'. The selected companies will receive customized financial and non-financial support from policy financial institutions and special benefits from each ministry until the end of 2026. A total of 13 ministries rigorously screened companies based on their innovativeness, technological prowess, and future growth potential. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy selected the most companies with 128, followed by the Ministry of Science and ICT with 110, and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups with 100. By industry sector, manufacturing and mobility, including electric vehicles, defense, and robotics, had the highest number with 116 companies. This was followed by AI analysis and big data with 80 companies, and eco-friendly and smart agriculture/fisheries with 76 companies. Over 96% of the selected companies fall under the 'Five Key Funding Areas', such as future promising industries. Key selection examples recognized for their innovativeness include December & Company (Financial Services Commission), a leader in AI-based non-face-to-face discretionary investment services; Rapichi (Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy), expanding its private and public market share with its conversational AI integrated platform 'ConvAI'; Root Finders (Ministry of Science and ICT, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy), which developed 'EasyPlus', a digital accessibility solution for the visually impaired; and Twig Farm, which introduced 'Math with a Heart', an AI-customized math learning solution, and 'Letterworks', a natural language processing-based content re-creation solution. These companies will receive financial support such as interest rate reductions (up to 1.5%p), expanded loan limits, and preferential guarantee ratios (95%), as well as non-financial support including consulting, IR (Investor Relations), and export assistance. Each ministry will provide additional benefits such as extra points for R&D projects and public relations support. This system differs from previous ones by expanding participating ministries and strengthening support benefits. It also aims to respond flexibly to changing industrial environments and promote substantive management by selecting companies annually and setting validity periods. The second selection for 'Innovation Premier' is scheduled for the first half of 2026. By selecting approximately 500 additional companies annually, a total of about 1,000 companies will receive concentrated support benefits starting from 2026. Through this program, the government plans to actively support the growth of excellent companies that will lead the innovative growth of our economy, by organically linking policy finance with industrial policy.