Ministry of SMEs and Startups Considers Expanding Women-Only Business Incubators to Local Level

Addressing the Concentration of Women BIs in Major Regions: Expansion to the Local Level
Utilizing Public Buildings to Reduce Costs; 300 Million Won Invested per Center
A Creative and Lifestyle Convergence Model with the Concept of "Creative Spa

The government is considering expanding women-only business incubators (Women BIs), currently operated by the Women Enterprise Support Center, down to the local level in order to promote entrepreneurship among women residing in regional areas.

According to government sources on December 9, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups has begun a full-scale review of establishing a new Women BI, tentatively named the "Women Enterprise Plus+ Center (Plus Center)," based on the results of a related research project. This initiative is part of the "Creating a Women-Friendly Business Environment" policy included in the "Second Basic Plan for Promoting Women-Owned Businesses (2025-2029)" announced by the Ministry in October. This plan is a statutory five-year plan established by the Ministry in accordance with Article 5 of the Act on Support for Women-Owned Businesses. Its goal is to systematically support the entire lifecycle of women-owned businesses, from startup and growth to global expansion.

Women BIs are facilities operated by the Women Enterprise Support Center, a foundation under the Korea Women Entrepreneurs Association, which is a private organization commissioned to implement the Ministry's women-owned business support policies. These centers currently operate as regional hubs in 18 locations nationwide, mainly in the Seoul metropolitan area and major cities, targeting women-owned businesses less than three years old or prospective women entrepreneurs. Resident women-owned businesses are provided with approximately 33 square meters of dedicated workspace, along with various forms of support such as consulting on management and sales.

The problem is that existing Women BIs are difficult to access for women entrepreneurs in small and medium-sized cities outside the Seoul metropolitan area or in rural and fishing communities. Young women or mothers face a significant burden in having to leave their place of residence to use startup spaces. The Ministry of SMEs and Startups believes that this structure creates an imbalance in the women's entrepreneurship ecosystem between regions. A Ministry official stated, "There needs to be an environment where local women can continue to live in their communities while taking on the challenge of starting a business."

Based on the research project conducted by the Women Enterprise Support Center, the Ministry recently conducted a preliminary demand survey targeting over 100 local governments nationwide. Using the results, the Ministry is reviewing the operational direction of existing Women BIs and is exploring various ways to secure funding for the establishment of new Plus Centers.

The Ministry is considering utilizing existing public buildings provided by local governments to set up Plus Centers, with both the government and the Plus Centers sharing the costs required for building renovations and other related expenses. The annual operating cost per Plus Center is currently being discussed at around 250 million won.

The concept of the Plus Center is a creative and lifestyle convergence model that combines "Creative Space" and "Life Plus+." "Creative Space" signifies a gateway to innovation and an open window connecting to the world and the future. "Life Plus+" aims to serve as a platform that adds value not only to business support but also to life and the local community. Accordingly, the Ministry envisions the Plus Center as a comprehensive platform that goes beyond simply supporting startups to encompass women's economic activities, caregiving, culture, and personal development, thereby covering all aspects of daily life. Through this, the Ministry aims to establish customized women’s entrepreneurship hubs that meet local needs.

A Ministry official explained, "We are currently developing various models based on the research results." As a separate budget for this initiative has not yet been allocated, the Ministry is actively discussing the matter with relevant agencies and will continue to review various scenarios, including the possibility of launching the project as early as the year after next, depending on progress.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.