In South Korea, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that demonstrate excellence in management innovation can be formally recognized through the Main-Biz certification.
What is Main-Biz?
Main-Biz (메인비즈)—combining Management, Innovation, and Business—recognizes SMEs certified by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) for innovation in non-technical areas such as marketing, organization/HR, process improvement, and overall business operations.
Who can receive this certification?
Eligible SMEs are those currently implementing—or having implemented within the last three years—substantive management-innovation activities with verifiable results. (Enterprises in restricted/harmful consumer sectors are excluded.)
What does the certification indicate about the business?
Main-Biz certification signifies that an SME has passed an on-site assessment by MSS, which typically includes in-person inspections at the business location, employee interviews, and a review of business operations and financial data. In practice, it is a third-party validation of the company’s management systems, governance, and continuous-improvement capability—not merely a paper review.
Coverage in KOBDi: The KOBDi database includes businesses certified as Main-Biz (메인비즈 인증). This information appears on each Business Profile page, and companies with this certification can be found via the KOBDi Korea Industry Search.