Mainbiz (Management Innovation SME) Selection
The management innovation SME, known as "Mainbiz", is a system in which the Minister of SMEs and Startups evaluates management innovation activities and results and selects excellent companies. The law requires the selection procedure and evaluation criteria to be announced by public notice, so details such as application documents, processing period and fees are not confirmed in the law itself and must be checked in the notice. (Law status as of 2026-10-02.)
Summary
- Scope: SMEs engaged in management innovation activities.
- Selecting authority: the Minister of SMEs and Startups (selection procedure and evaluation criteria announced).
- Core criteria: management innovation activities and results.
- Benefit: priority support may be given when management innovation SME programs are carried out.
- Documents, processing period and fee: not confirmed in the law itself (check the notice).
Is Mainbiz a license or a selection?
It is not a license or registration but a system in which companies are selected after evaluation. The Minister of SMEs and Startups may carry out support programs to promote SME management innovation, such as fostering management innovation SMEs, and the Enforcement Decree requires the selection procedure and evaluation criteria to be set and announced when selecting them. It is closer to eligibility for government support programs than to a license needed to start business.
What are the selection criteria?
The evaluation criteria for management innovation SMEs are matters such as management innovation activities and management innovation results. The Minister evaluates companies under these criteria and selects the companies with excellent results. Specific items, scores and pass levels are set by public notice, so the notice at the time of application must be checked.
Which documents are needed?
A list of application documents was not confirmed in the law itself. Because the selection procedure and criteria are set by public notice, the required documents are set in the notice and the current notice must be checked.
What is the procedure?
The steps confirmed in the law are: (1) announcement of the selection procedure and evaluation criteria → (2) evaluation → (3) selection of companies with excellent results → (4) priority support for selected companies. The Minister may have applicants bear the cost of evaluation, and matters on calculating and paying that cost are set by notice.
How long does it take?
No provision fixing a processing period was confirmed, so no number of days is given. The evaluation schedule follows the notice.
Which authority selects?
The Minister of SMEs and Startups selects; the actual receiving and evaluating body should be checked in the notice.
What is the statutory fee?
The law only provides that applicants may be made to bear the cost of evaluation, and that matters on calculating and paying it are set by notice of the Minister. No amount is confirmed in the law itself, so none is given, and private service charges are not statutory fees and are excluded here.
Why is selection difficult?
The element confirmed in the law is whether management innovation activities and results are judged excellent under the evaluation criteria. Only companies with excellent results are selected, so it helps to prepare evidence of management innovation activities before applying.
What can an administrative attorney help with?
YouSun Administrative Attorney supports preparing and submitting application forms and supporting documents under the notice, on commission. It does not provide management consulting, guarantee evaluation results, or handle tax and accounting work. Work restricted by other laws cannot be done, and litigation and court representation are lawyers' work and are not handled. Selection is decided by the Minister of SMEs and Startups.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is Mainbiz?
A. Under the law it means a management innovation SME: a system that evaluates management innovation activities and results and selects excellent companies.
Q. How is it different from Innobiz?
A. Technology innovation SMEs are evaluated on technology innovation results and technology commercialization ability, while management innovation SMEs are evaluated on management innovation activities and results.
Q. What benefits does selection bring?
A. When the Minister carries out programs to foster management innovation SMEs, selected companies may be supported with priority.
Q. What documents are needed?
A. They are not confirmed in the law itself and are set in the selection notice, so check the notice.
Q. Is there an evaluation cost?
A. Applicants may be made to bear the cost of evaluation, and matters on calculating and paying it are set by notice.
Q. What is the processing period?
A. No provision fixing the number of days was confirmed, so none is given.
Q. Who selects?
A. The Minister of SMEs and Startups selects companies with excellent evaluation results.
Official Standards
Management innovation support programs: the Minister may carry out programs to promote SME management innovation
— 중소기업 기술혁신 촉진법 제15조의3 (law as of 2026-10-02, law.go.kr (Korean original))
Selection procedure: the Minister shall announce the selection procedure and evaluation criteria when selecting management innovation SMEs
— 중소기업 기술혁신 촉진법 시행령 제13조 (law as of 2026-10-02, law.go.kr (Korean original))
Selection: the Minister shall evaluate companies and select those with excellent evaluation results
— 중소기업 기술혁신 촉진법 시행령 제13조 (law as of 2026-10-02, law.go.kr (Korean original))
Related Pages
- Venture / Innobiz certification service
- Mainbiz certification requirements and process (blog)
- Innobiz vs Mainbiz comparison (blog)
- All services
Contact
YouSun Administrative Attorney (+82-2-363-2251) supports document review and filing with the competent authority. Contact: /en/contact