'Gangso Enterprise 100 Dedicated Support Team' Launch Ceremony... "Growth into a Global Specialized Company"

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daeseop] The Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced on the 6th that it held the launch ceremony of the 'Dedicated Support Group for 100 Strong Small Giants' together with seven related organizations.

The launch ceremony was held at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups located in the Daejeon Government Complex. Officials from the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, Small and Medium Business Corporation, Korea Technology Finance Corporation, Foundation for Large and Small Business, Agriculture and Fisheries Cooperation, Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology, Korea Industrial Technology Promotion Agency, Korea Venture Investment Corp., and Korea Institute for Robot Industry Advancement participated.

At the launch ceremony, requests from strong small giants collected through an online platform, cases of resolving difficulties, and system improvement examples were shared, and future support directions and improvement plans by each organization were discussed.

The Dedicated Support Group for 100 Strong Small Giants serves as a channel where strong small giants can receive timely guidance on exclusive and preferential projects and resolve on-site difficulties through a combined online and offline one-stop service. The Ministry of SMEs and Startups began forming the dedicated support group in February and has communicated through online platforms due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups is promoting the 'Strong Small Giants 100 Project' to foster companies that will enhance technological independence in materials, parts, and equipment and contribute to creating future new industries. Last year, 55 companies were selected in the first round out of 1,064 applicants. Selected strong small giants will receive package support including technology development, funding for mass production and sales of developed technologies, and the spread of smart factories for process innovation to promote rapid technological innovation and commercialization.

Cha Jeonghun, Director of the Startup Venture Innovation Office at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, said, "We expect that the support system for strong small giants in materials, parts, and equipment will be fully operational starting from this launch ceremony," adding, "We will share and supplement the opinions presented to upgrade support systems by related organizations and provide policy support so that strong small giants in materials, parts, and equipment can grow into global specialized companies."