The 4th round of new applications for the 2026 Performance Certification (EPC) officially begins today, drawing significant attention from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This announcement can serve as a valuable breakthrough for companies that possess superior technological capabilities but struggle to open up new market channels. In fact, a manufacturing CEO who passed the certification last year experienced the joy of seeing their sales triple after gaining access to public institution supply contracts. Therefore, given the tight preparation period, it is more important than ever to quickly grasp the schedule and eligibility requirements for this round. In this article, we will go through the exact application period for the 4th round and the key items that must be checked during the preparation process.
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Complete Guide to the 4th New Application Announcement and Schedule for the 2026 Performance Certification (EPC)
1. Overview of the 4th Performance Certification Announcement for 2026
The 4th performance certification application for 2026 is led by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) and has been registered under announcement number 565. Although the process repeats annually, specific evaluation criteria and document formats change slightly, so it is essential to read the latest announcement carefully. In particular, since the Market Development Policy Division directly manages the schedule, it is safest to contact this division immediately if you have any questions. This government-certified system was established to help SMEs enter the public procurement market by verifying the performance of their developed products early on. Therefore, for practitioners in the field who have completed technology development but are struggling to prove reliability, this is an opportunity like a timely rain in a drought.
The application period begins today, September 21, 2026, and is scheduled to continue for approximately three weeks until October 14, 2026. Since the system may slow down due to a surge in users right before the deadline, it is advisable to submit documents with some buffer time. If you miss the deadline, you will have to wait several months for the next round, so it is wise to mark the schedule on your calendar in advance. To avoid any mistakes, you must download all the template files attached to the announcement, fill them out completely, and organize the supporting materials in order.
This 4th round of applications, conducted under announcement number 565, will be managed by the Market Development Policy Division from September 21 to October 14.
2. Application Eligibility and Scope of Target Products
To receive performance certification, the applying company must be an SME as defined by the SME Basic Act, and the product must be self-developed. Products that illegally use others’ technology or common items already widely known in the market are naturally excluded from review. For example, it is advantageous if the product’s performance is significantly enhanced by applying patented technology registered with the Korean Intellectual Property Office or technology that has received new product certification. A working prototype must exist in the field, and a test report issued by an accredited testing institution is mandatory. Since technologies that remain at the idea level find it difficult to pass the rigorous verification stages of the review committee, a level of completion comparable to a finished product is required.
Additionally, you must submit documents proving that the goods were produced directly by the SME, such as a factory registration certificate or a direct production certification. Even if you outsource production, your certification approval may be rejected if you cannot prove that you directly manage the core processes. One company that failed last year says they suffered a rejection because they could not prove their self-production ratio on paper, but they plan to retry this year by supplementing their production equipment logs. As such, eligibility depends not just on meeting legal standards, but on how transparently you demonstrate your actual manufacturing capabilities.
A self-developed prototype, an accredited test report, and documents proving direct production capability are essential eligibility requirements.
3. Guide to Required Documents and Submission Methods
Since applications are processed online, you must complete registration on the relevant website and register a common authentication certificate (public key certificate) in advance. Download the application form and technical description template attached to the announcement, fill them out thoroughly, convert them to PDF, and upload them. If the test report is expired or if any documents are missing, you may be asked to supplement them or your application may be rejected. In particular, it is advantageous to describe the product’s originality and differentiation from existing products in detail using objective figures and charts in the technical description. Writing it clearly so that the evaluation committee can easily understand the value of the technology is the shortest path to increasing your chances of passing.
The list of documents to be submitted also includes basic administrative documents such as a business registration certificate, corporate registry extract, and financial statements, so you should obtain them in advance. It is easy to make the mistake of submitting documents with expired validity periods if you rush to get them, so it is a good habit to prepare them a few days in advance. All documents must be scanned precisely so that the text is not blurry or cut off, making it easy for the responsible personnel to verify. You must definitely check whether the application number has been issued correctly around the deadline to prevent any oversights.
You must perfectly submit the application form, technical description, accredited test report, etc., in the prescribed formats through the online website.
4. Review Process and Strategies for On-site Evaluation
Once the online document submission is completed, a rigorous process follows in the order of Stage 1 requirement review, Stage 2 technical review, and finally the on-site evaluation. In the technical review stage, experts in the relevant field gather to meticulously review the submitted documents to assess the completeness and originality of the technology. The on-site evaluation team visits the company directly to visually confirm whether the prototype actually operates normally and whether the production equipment is properly set up. In reality, it is often seen that companies lose points due to poor factory cleanliness or equipment malfunctions on the day of the on-site evaluation. Therefore, it is wise to clean and organize the factory interior in advance and rehearse the prototype demonstration process multiple times once the evaluation schedule is set.
You must be able to explain the technical superiority and commercialization potential logically without being flustered by the sharp questions of the evaluation committee. It is very helpful to prepare presentation materials that organize the data or test results proving the product’s performance in an easy-to-understand manner. Rather than hiding weaknesses, an attitude of acknowledging technical limitations and honestly presenting future plans to supplement them leads to higher scores. If all employees approach the evaluation with one mind and sincerely demonstrate the company’s technological capabilities, you can expect good results.
The on-site evaluation, which follows the document review, thoroughly checks the prototype demonstration and factory equipment status, so thorough rehearsals are necessary.
5. Benefits of Obtaining Performance Certification
If you obtain performance certification through this 4th announcement, you will enjoy the strong benefit of being designated as a priority purchase product for public institutions. Since public institutions are legally required to purchase a certain percentage or more of SME technology development products, a major door opens for market development. By gaining the qualification to enter the public procurement market, you can secure stable sales channels and simultaneously enhance your corporate brand value. In fact, many SMEs treat this certification system as a make-or-break project to overcome the limitations of private sales. Because it provides accredited trust in quality, it is also used as a powerful weapon in transactions with large corporations and overseas export negotiations.
Additionally, you can receive bonus points when applying for the designation of Excellent Procurement Items by the Korea Procurement Agency, and you are given preferential treatment in various technology development support programs. The title of a company recognized for its technological capabilities also acts as a positive signal in the investment attraction process, making fundraising easier. During the certification maintenance period, continuous post-management helps the company’s entire quality management system take a leap forward. It serves as a solid stepping stone that leads to substantive improvement and growth of the company, going beyond a simple marketing tool.
You can achieve stable sales and corporate growth by gaining the benefits of the public institution priority purchase system and the qualification to enter the procurement market.
6. Final Advice for Successful Certification
So far, we have examined in detail all aspects of the 4th new application for the 2026 Performance Certification, from the schedule to the benefits. During the remaining period, you should re-read the detailed guidelines of the announcement and coldly check whether your company’s product meets all requirements. Rather than worrying alone during the document preparation process, it is better to actively utilize guidance consultation phones from relevant institutions or help from organizations like the Federation of Korean Small and Medium Businesses. If you have confidence in your technology and thorough document preparation, this 4th announcement will be a precious opportunity for your company’s leap forward. We encourage you to steadily complete your documents starting today so that you do not miss the upcoming deadline of October 14.
Never forget that successful certification is not the end, but a great starting point for moving into new markets. Since small mistakes can lead to the pain of failure, meticulousness is required to review and re-review until the moment of submission. We hope that SMEs, the sturdy backbone of the South Korean economy, will proudly demonstrate their resilience through this performance certification. We will continue to accompany your business journey with useful policy news and practical information.
If you strictly adhere to the deadline and prepare documents meticulously, this 4th performance certification will be a powerful springboard for corporate growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
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