Ministry of SMEs and Startups Seeks Nominees for Regional Depopulation Response Award

Spreading Successes that Drive Change and Growth by Leveraging Regional Distinctiveness

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced on August 9 that it is seeking nominees for the “2026 Award for Meritorious Service in Response to Regional Depopulation.”

This award aims to discover and honor individuals and organizations that have contributed to revitalizing local communities by creating jobs and expanding resident populations, thereby promoting their achievements more widely.

Until now, the Ministry has responded to regional depopulation by supporting the growth and job creation of companies that underpin local economies and nurturing industries rooted in local communities. This year, through pilot projects that interconnect the value chain—including production, processing, and distribution—of specialized resources within regions and incorporate design and branding, the Ministry has been enhancing both the competitiveness and self-sufficiency of products from marginalized areas.

Through this award, the Ministry plans to identify and recognize a wide range of contributors who have achieved results in communities across the country, so that outstanding experiences and performances can be shared and spread to other regions. A total of nine Minister of SMEs and Startups Commendations will be awarded, and any individual, SME, institution, or organization that has contributed to revitalizing the local economy in areas at risk of depopulation is eligible to apply.

The application period is from August 10 to 31. The Ministry will review submitted recommendations and confirm award nominees through a document review and a merit evaluation committee, and plans to present the commendations at the “2026 SME Convergence Expo” scheduled for November.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.