Holds AI Technology Companies Meeting with Ministry of Science and ICT

Exploring Collaboration and Support Strategies for Digital Transformation of Mid-sized Companies Based on Artificial Intelligence Technology

(From left) Kim Deuk-jung, Head of the Korea Information and Communication Industry Promotion Agency; Kang Do-hyun, Director at the Ministry of Science and ICT; Yang Chi-yong, Executive Director at Yeonwoo; Lim Jeong-hyun, CEO of Korea Metallurgy; Park Jeong-gyun, Director at NHN; Kim Yeon-gi, CEO of Eden T&S; Seong Min-su, CEO of Gwangseong Enterprise; Park Jae-hyun, CEO of KDX Korea Data Exchange; Kim Hyeong-jin, Chairman of Sejong Telecom; Kim Young-woo, Executive Director at Nepes; Ban Won-ik, Executive Vice President of the Korea Federation of Medium-sized Enterprises; Lee Sang-wook, Manager at TmaxSoft; Jang Seok-young, 2nd Vice Minister of the Ministry of Science and ICT; Nam In-bong, CEO of iMarketKorea; Kang Seok-gyun, CEO of AhnLab; Kwon Hyuk-hwan, Vice President of Raon People; Kim Dae-gi, Executive Director at Hancom; Lee Taek-su, Vice President of Dawon Design; Lee Sang-cheol, Director at Douzone Bizon; Hong Sa-chan, Manager at the Ministry of Science and ICT; Han Sang-jun, Director at RSUPPORT, and others are posing for a commemorative photo at the meeting.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Cheol-hyun] The Korea Federation of Medium-Sized Enterprises announced on the 29th that it held a meeting with artificial intelligence technology companies in collaboration with the Ministry of Science and ICT to explore practical cooperation measures for AI technology-centered digital transformation as a new growth foundation for medium-sized enterprises in the era of the 4th Industrial Revolution.

About 20 officials from the government and medium-sized and small enterprises possessing and demanding AI technology attended, including Jang Seok-young, 2nd Vice Minister of the Ministry of Science and ICT, Ban Won-ik, Executive Vice Chairman of the Federation, Kim Hyung-jin, Chairman of Sejong Telecom, Kang Seok-gyun, CEO of AhnLab, Nam In-bong, CEO of iMarketKorea, Sung Min-su, CEO of Kwangsung Enterprise, and Lim Jeong-hyun, CEO of Korea Yageum.

The participants shared opinions on the value and urgency of the 'Digital New Deal' as a national development strategy to overcome the COVID-19 crisis and to enable Korea's leap forward, and discussed strategies for building an effective digital transformation ecosystem centered on medium-sized enterprises, focusing on the Ministry of Science and ICT's recently strengthened support policies for medium-sized enterprises.

Medium-sized enterprise representatives emphasized that by sharing multifaceted on-site responses to rapid industrial environment changes and through policy efforts to resolve difficulties on both the supply and demand sides of digital transformation, it is necessary to build and expand efficient digital infrastructure as a practical new growth engine not only for companies but also for the Korean economy. In particular, they pointed out that limiting many support projects such as the 'AI Voucher Support Project' and the 'Cloud Service Usage Support Voucher Project' exclusively to small enterprises is a self-imposed restriction on policy effectiveness, and urged active consideration of expanding the project targets to include medium-sized enterprises to enhance productivity across the industry.

Ban Won-ik, Executive Vice Chairman of the Federation, said, "I hope that a progressive level of budget allocation will be made that actively reflects the capabilities and value of medium-sized enterprises leading Korea's economic digital innovation through 'solidarity and cooperation,' beyond the 41.7 billion KRW R&D support budget allocated for five projects this year."