"Seeking SMEs and Small Business Owners Achieving Results with AI"...Ministry Accepting Applications Until the 21st

10 Outstanding Companies to Be Selected,
8 Awards for AI Contributions to Be Granted

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced on September 1 that, in cooperation with the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency, it will be accepting applications until the 21st for companies wishing to participate in the "2026 AI Transformation Best Practices Contest for SMEs" as well as nominations for the "Awards for Contributions to the Use and Dissemination of AI by Local SMEs."

The purpose of this contest and the related awards is to identify outstanding cases of management achievements by SMEs and small business owners through the adoption of AI, and to reward individuals and organizations that have contributed to regional AI transformation and ecosystem development among SMEs. The Ministry plans to share and disseminate the winning cases and the achievements of awardees through an end-of-year awards ceremony and presentations highlighting best practices.

First, the "AI Transformation Best Practices Contest" targets SMEs and small business owners who have achieved management innovation outcomes—such as increased productivity, improved quality, cost savings, increased sales, or the creation of new business models—by adopting and utilizing AI technologies.

Companies wishing to participate are required to submit their application forms and descriptions of their exemplary cases of AI adoption by email to the representative of the local SME and Startup Office with jurisdiction over the company's business location. Further details, including the receiving office and submission formats, can be found in the official announcement.

Ministry of SMEs and Startups Building. Ministry of SMEs and Startups

The Ministry and the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency plan to select a total of 10 companies after a comprehensive review of the innovation, scalability, and sustainability of their AI adoption and utilization cases. The Grand Prize (1 company), Second Prize (2 companies), and Excellence Award (2 companies) will receive the Minister of SMEs and Startups Award, while the Encouragement Award (5 companies) will receive the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency President's Award. In addition to preferential treatment in the Ministry's R&D support programs, the achievements of the winning companies will be included in a booklet of best practices for promotional purposes.

The "Awards for Contributions to the Use and Dissemination of AI by Local SMEs" target individuals, organizations, and institutions that have contributed to the adoption and use of AI by local SMEs, or to the activation of regional AI ecosystems by participating in Ministry-led programs such as the "Region-Led AI Transformation" initiative.

A total of 8 Minister of SMEs and Startups Commendations will be awarded. In the individual category, candidates will be evaluated based on the innovation and results achieved through AI adoption and use, as well as their contribution to supporting the AI transformation of SMEs. In the organizational/institutional category, the evaluation will focus on the performance of regional AI programs, collaboration systems, and contributions to ecosystem building.

An official from the Ministry stated, "Going forward, we will strengthen support so that SMEs and small business owners can improve their productivity and competitiveness by utilizing AI."

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