Full-Scale Operation of the 'One-Stop Comprehensive Support Service' Established in Gwangju

Launch of a Mentor Group Comprising 80 Experts Including Researchers, AI Company CEOs, and Patent Attorneys

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] A ‘one-stop comprehensive support service’ system has been established and officially launched to help AI-related companies based in Gwangju Metropolitan City grow into strong small and medium-sized enterprises with global capabilities.

Gwangju City announced on the 25th that following the opening of the AI Comprehensive Support Center at Gwangju Technopark last July, it held the launch ceremony of the AI Comprehensive Support Mentor Group at Gwangju Technopark on the afternoon of the 25th and officially began providing specialized services tailored to each AI company’s situation.

The AI Comprehensive Support Mentor Group, launched on this day, consists of about 80 experts divided into four major fields?technology, startup & management, business, and legal & patents?with around 20 members in each field. Participants include senior researchers from national research institutes, professional consultants, university professors, AI company CEOs, patent attorneys or lawyers, and certified labor attorneys who are actively working in the AI industry field.

The AI Comprehensive Support Mentor Group provides customized mentoring according to each company’s needs: in the technology field, major AI technology development; in the business field, business model development and advancement; in the startup & management field, funding and market entry strategies; and in the legal & patent field, legal interpretation and patent application matters.

The mentoring program is divided into an on-demand program (within 2 months) that supports services in desired fields according to each company’s situation, and a regular program (within 6 months) designed to proactively nurture various fields. In the future, it plans to expand into global mentoring linked with overseas specialized institutions.

Meanwhile, the Comprehensive Support Center operates as a one-stop comprehensive support service system supporting the entire AI industry ecosystem cycle: the first stage is a call center (1666-1072) that handles basic inquiries and connects to a responsible counselor; the second stage is the responsible counselor who listens to difficulties in cooperation with experts and guides to the professional mentor group; and the third stage is the professional mentor group providing in-depth, customized mentoring services for AI companies by field.

Gwangju City has so far signed business agreements with 33 AI companies with global competitiveness, and among them, 21 companies have established corporations and opened offices in Gwangju, accelerating the creation of an AI-centered city.

By professionally mentoring all areas of difficulties needed by AI attraction companies, transition companies, local companies, and startups, it is expected to give a stronger boost to the creation of a Gwangju-type AI business ecosystem.

Kim Seon-min, President of Gwangju Technopark, said, “Through the operation of the AI expert group mentor team, we will systematically solve the difficulties faced by companies in each field and provide customized professional services, doing our best as the vanguard of fostering the Gwangju-type AI industry.”

Mayor Lee Yong-seop said, “The AI Comprehensive Support Expert Group Mentor Team is expected to play a significant role in establishing the system and foundation for fostering the AI industry and creating Gwangju as an AI-centered city. I hope that newly born AI startup companies and talents will lead the future of the Gwangju community.”