Muan-gun Selected for Makerspace Specialized Lab Construction and Operation Project

Creating a New Paradigm for the Job Ecosystem

Exterior view of the Production-type Startup Support Center at Mokpo National University Naman Campus, where a Makerspace specialized lab will be established / ? Asia Economy

[Muan＝Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Oh Hwan-joo] Muan County, Jeollanam-do (Governor Kim San) announced on the 3rd that it was finally selected on the 29th of last month for the Ministry of SMEs and Startups' public project, the '2021 Makerspace Establishment and Operation Project.'

Makerspace is a facility establishment and operation project that supports professional maker activities such as prototype production and mass production, connecting innovative infrastructure to promote manufacturing startups. The support targets eight institutions nationwide, with a maximum national subsidy of 1.5 billion KRW per location. The lead institution is a corporation, and participating institutions are local governments.

The selected specialized lab establishment and operation project involves joint participation by Muan County and Jeollanam-do, with Mokpo National University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation as the lead. It was applied for and selected under the theme of 'Smart Farm Industry Manufacturing Startup Establishment and Operation.' The facility is scheduled to be established within the year and will operate as the Southwest Startup Innovation Town, aiming to nurture about 12,000 makers over five years, create 150 new startups, generate 160 jobs, and secure investment funds of 1.43 billion KRW.

Within the Namak Production-type Startup Incubation Center at Mokpo National University, a 1,123㎡ facility will be built, including specialized equipment rooms, classrooms, startup incubation rooms, and exhibition halls. It will foster startups through education and technical support related to smart farm automation devices, robots, agricultural machinery, and agricultural drones.

Governor Kim San stated, "We will build a smart farm industry manufacturing startup ecosystem that integrates 4th industrial technologies to support youth startups, nurture and advance local small and medium manufacturing enterprises, and induce sustainable growth of regional industries."

Meanwhile, as the lead institution, Mokpo National University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation has signed MOUs with 35 specialized institutions, including Jeonnam Youth Farming Town, regional investment funding institutions, regional startup innovation institutions, and the Korea Smart Farm Industry Association, to form an expert pool for the successful creation of this project model.

Muan=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Oh Hwan-joo ohj1358@asiae.co.kr