Korea Federation of SMEs and TIPA Launch Support Program for AI Transformation in Small and Medium Manufacturers

A Total of 48 Projects Selected
Overall Project Budget Set at 122.9 Billion Won

The Korea Federation of SMEs, together with the Artificial Intelligence Innovation Promotion Group of the Korea Technology and Information Promotion Agency for SMEs, held a kick-off meeting on August 4 for organizations selected as project executing agencies in the 'Support Program for Rapid Commercialization of AI-Application Products in the Manufacturing Sector', and will conduct practical training on August 5.

This initiative is part of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups' program to support the digital transformation of small and medium manufacturing businesses through AI adoption, and a total of 48 projects have been selected. The total project budget amounts to 122.9 billion won.

About 120 attendees, including officials from the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, the Korea Federation of SMEs, the Artificial Intelligence Innovation Promotion Group, as well as representatives from participating adopter and supplier companies, attended the kick-off meeting held on this day at the Korea Federation of SMEs in Yeouido, Seoul.

Participants shared the direction and future milestones of the program, and reviewed preparations ahead of the full-scale execution of the projects. Professor Jang Youngjae of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) delivered a presentation on core manufacturing AI technologies and commercialization prospects that will drive changes in the manufacturing industry, providing strategic direction for the project.

During the on-site meeting, organizations participating in the program, such as those in food, beauty, and root (materials-processing) industries, presented their business plans and strategies for spreading results. They also shared difficulties and suggestions related to the process of AI transformation (AX).

The practical training session, to be held at the ICC Hotel in Daejeon on August 5, will cover implementation procedures, detailed management standards, demand-driven system analysis and design, as well as training on accounting settlement and audit response. The plan is to help participating organizations gain a full understanding of practical matters, including budget execution and settlement procedures from the outset, so that the projects can be managed stably.

Ahn Kwanghyun, head of the Artificial Intelligence Innovation Promotion Group, said, "The kick-off meeting and practical training will help strengthen the commitment of executing agencies and enhance their understanding of the project," and added, "We will actively support all phases of the program to ensure that results from AI transformation are achieved quickly."

Yang Chanhoe, head of the Innovation and Growth Division at the Korea Federation of SMEs, stated, "I hope this support program will lead to enhanced competitiveness in the field of small and medium manufacturing through AI innovation. We will maintain close communication with our on-site partners to thoroughly support participating companies, and make efforts to ensure that the achievements of AX are widely spread across different industries and sectors."

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