[2026 Parliamentary Audit] GRI Technology Support Up 24% ... but SMEs Benefiting Fall 26%

Technology-support cases rose from 11,704 in 2023 to 14,577 in 2025, while the number of companies receiving support declined
Five GRIs cut regional-office budgets despite increases in their overall budgets

The number of technology-support cases for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) handled by regional offices of government-funded research institutes (GRIs) rose 24.5% over the past three years. However, the total number of companies receiving support fell by 25.9%. Some GRIs saw their overall budgets increase while their regional-office budgets decreased, prompting calls to assess whether local SMEs are receiving sufficient technology support.

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According to data submitted by the National Research Council of Science & Technology (NST) to Rep. Kim Namguk, a member of the National Assembly’s Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee, the number of technology-support cases for SMEs handled by GRI regional offices rose 24.5%, from 11,704 in 2023 to 14,577 in 2025. In contrast, the total number of companies receiving support fell 25.9% over the same period, from 2,409 to 1,786.

The number of technology-support cases increased each year, from 11,704 in 2023 to 13,620 in 2024 and 14,577 in 2025. The total number of companies receiving support declined steadily over the same period, from 2,409 to 2,230 and then to 1,786.

A comparison of the same 50 regional offices, which controls for changes in their composition, showed a similar trend. The number of technology-support cases increased 21.2%, from 11,521 to 13,963, while the total number of companies receiving support fell 28.0%, from 2,359 to 1,699. In other words, technology-support activities expanded, but the range of companies receiving support narrowed.

There were also cases in which the overall budgets of GRIs and the budgets of their regional offices moved in opposite directions. Of the 19 GRIs with regional offices, five saw their overall budgets increase this year compared with last year, while their regional-office budgets declined.

Democratic Party of Korea Rep. Kim Namguk asks a question. Photo provided by Rep. Kim Namguk's office.

The Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology’s overall budget rose 4.7%, from KRW 234.3 billion to KRW 245.3 billion, while its regional-office budget fell 11.9%, from KRW 67.8 billion to KRW 59.7 billion. The Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information’s overall budget increased 42.8%, while its regional-office budget decreased 3.3%. The Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials also saw its overall budget rise 8.7%, while its regional-office budget fell 7.3%.

However, the combined regional-office budgets of the 19 GRIs increased. The rise in technology-support cases may also have resulted from repeated support for the same companies or more intensive support, so both support figures and program outcomes need to be examined.

Rep. Kim said, "The number of technology-support cases is increasing, but the number of companies benefiting is declining. The government should closely review how support is delivered and how budgets are allocated between GRI headquarters and regional offices, so that expanded government investment in research and development can strengthen the competitiveness of local SMEs."

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