Mokpo National University Selected for Ministry of SMEs and Startups 'Support Project for Small Business Specialized Support Center Operators'

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Jeonnam Province announced on the 5th that the National Mokpo University has been selected as the first institution in the Jeonnam region for the Ministry of SMEs and Startups' 'Support Project for Small Business Specialized Support Center Operation Institutions.'

The Support Project for Small Business Specialized Support Center Operation Institutions is a project that installs specialized centers within small business clusters to induce organization and collaboration, fostering the growth and development of small businesses and enhancing the competitiveness of local manufacturing industries.

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups recently finalized the selection of five operation institutions, including Mokpo University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation (Muan, Jeonnam), Seoul Gwangjin Clothing Association (Gwangjin, Seoul), Korea Optical Industry Promotion Agency (Buk-gu, Daegu), Gyeonggi Daejin Technopark (Pocheon, Gyeonggi), and Anyang Creative Industry Promotion Agency (Anyang, Gyeonggi).

The Mokpo University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation will establish a cooperative system with its partner institution, Muan County, to install and operate the 'Muan Ceramic Small Business Specialized Center.'

It will receive a project fund of 150 million KRW this year, and from next year, based on performance evaluations, it can receive up to 300 million KRW annually until 2022.

Going forward, the Muan Ceramic Small Business Specialized Center plans to implement self-sustainability enhancement projects, education consulting projects, marketing projects, and more to expand domestic and international markets by raising brand awareness for ceramic small businesses within Muan.

In particular, to foster ceramic small businesses in Muan, one of Korea's three major ceramic origins, the center will support shared facilities such as ceramic exhibitions, consultation rooms, testing equipment, and the use of 3D printers.

Additionally, with a mid- to long-term goal of branding Muan ceramics as luxury products and internationalizing them, the center will seek to ▲ establish a foundation for revitalizing the ceramic industry ▲ strengthen the competitiveness of small business products and create luxury brands ▲ enhance the value of the Muan ceramic brand and expand domestic and international sales channels.

Park Byunghun, Director of the Jeonnam Province SME and Startup Division, said, “If National Mokpo University, selected as the first operation institution in Jeonnam, leads the innovative growth of small businesses by utilizing the capabilities and infrastructure of a ceramic industry specialized institution, it will solidify the foundation of the ceramic industry overall and greatly contribute to manufacturing innovation.”