Korea unveils ₩2.4 bil. project to help startups build medical AI tools

The government will support companies developing medical artificial intelligence technologies by providing access to medical data, including imaging, records, and patient information.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korea Healthcare Information Service announced on Wednesday that they will invite companies to apply for the “Medical AI Data Utilization Voucher Support Project” until Aug. 8 to promote the safe utilization of medical data.

The ministry has allocated an additional 2.4 billion won ($1.73 million) in the second supplementary budget for 2025 to support the project. It will support up to 400 million won in data processing and analysis costs, enabling SMEs and startups developing medical AI to create AI-based products and services utilizing data from medical data-centered hospitals.

Medical data-oriented hospitals are 43 medical institutions that receive support to build data infrastructure and develop utilization procedures, enabling the clinical data accumulated in these institutions to be utilized for research and development.

The medical data that can be utilized includes imaging, such as CT, MRI, and ultrasound, text, such as written medical records and medical certificates, structured data, such as diagnosis codes and test results, vital signs, such as blood pressure and oxygen saturation, and patient characteristics, such as age, gender, and medical history.

Approximately eight companies are targeted for the support project, which includes SMEs and startups that develop and operate products and services, such as pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and digital healthcare solutions, utilizing AI technology based on medical data.

The ministry plans to select four companies with large-scale projects and support them with up to 400 million won, as well as four medium-sized projects with up to 200 million won. The support method involves matching supply and demand, signing an agreement between the supported companies and medical institutions, and issuing vouchers for data processing and analysis according to the terms of the agreement.

“By applying AI technology to the medical field, it is possible to assist in quick and accurate diagnosis and reduce the burden on essential medical staff,” the ministry said. “This project is expected to create a safe use case for medical data because it provides data required for the development of various medical AI products and services customized for each customer.”