Kookmin University, CEPTECH recruit for 2026 manufacturing startup support program

Kookmin University and CEPTECH are launching a recruitment drive for the 2026 Manufacturing Specialist Maker Space program, an initiative by South Korea's Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the Korea Institute of Startup & Entrepreneurship Development.

This program, a new model introduced this year, moves beyond traditional prototype creation to offer comprehensive support across the entire manufacturing startup lifecycle. This includes design verification, process design, product certification, and initial mass production. The collaboration leverages Kookmin University's Techno Design Graduate School's expertise in design and technology convergence with CEPTECH's practical experience in manufacturing.

Selected companies will benefit from a range of government-funded support. This includes one-on-one mentoring from experts in design, technology, management, and investment, as well as connections for investment, market access assistance, and access to specialized manufacturing equipment, including industrial 3D printers. The program also features ten specialized educational courses covering areas like brand planning, AI design, metal 3D printing, and small-batch production, alongside networking opportunities linked to investment attraction and performance exhibitions.

The program targets student teams with prototype ideas, pre-startup teams, and startups less than seven years old. Applications are open until July 1, with selection results announced in early to mid-July. Jang Joong-sik, Dean of Kookmin University's Techno Design Graduate School, emphasized the program's goal to provide close support for the entire manufacturing startup process, enabling participants to create products ready for market sale.

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We will provide close support for the entire manufacturing startup process, not just a simple production space, so that they can create products that can be sold in the actual market.