‘Gyeongbuk Design-Driven Manufacturing Innovation Center’ Settles in Gumi

Opening Ceremony on the 23rd... 350-pyeong 2nd Floor Space in Geumo Technovalley

Will Mark a Turning Point in Design Innovation for Manufacturing Companies

Gumi-si, Gyeongbuk held the opening ceremony of the Gyeongbuk Design-Driven Manufacturing Innovation Center on the 23rd.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] Gumi City, Gyeongbuk, opened the ‘Gyeongbuk Design-Led Manufacturing Innovation Center’ at Geumo Technovalley on the 23rd.

The Gyeongbuk Design-Led Manufacturing Innovation Center was established as a result of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy’s nationwide competition held in April targeting smart green industrial complexes in Incheon, Gumi, Gwangju, Daegu, Yeosu, and others.

The center provides customized support for the ‘design-UP innovation program’ covering all areas of product production, from product planning to manufacturing and marketing, tailored to different types of manufacturing companies.

It mainly plans to support small and medium-sized enterprises that rely solely on the capabilities of their management without professional design organizations due to lack of experience and capital.

The design-UP support program starts with ‘touch-UP,’ which diagnoses the company’s capabilities, followed by ‘value-UP,’ which helps with new product development and design improvement; ‘scale-UP,’ which supports new product development and idea discovery using parts and materials; ‘build-UP,’ which backs self-product development by root industry manufacturers; and ‘smart-UP,’ which promotes marketing and publicity of developed products.

The Gyeongbuk center is the largest among Seoul, Siheung in Gyeonggi, Changwon in Gyeongnam, Gumi in Gyeongbuk, and Gwangju, occupying two floors with a total area of 350 pyeong.

It is equipped with facilities enabling one-stop support, including a CMF (Color, Material, Finishing) exhibition room directly linked to consumer sensibility, a digital design room supporting online content production, a design library, a smart studio supporting marketing, and a conference room.

Various research and development and support facilities for companies have been concentrated through cooperation with local innovation research institutions such as Gumi Electronics & Information Technology Institute, Gyeongbuk Creative Economy Innovation Center, industry-academia convergence districts including Kumoh National Institute of Technology, Kyungwoon University, Gumi University, and business support centers.

The city plans to collaborate with the Korea Institute of Design Promotion, which operates the center, to discover and promote various design support policies including manufacturing innovation support projects.

Mayor Jang Seyong said, “Innovative design integrated throughout the manufacturing process will further highlight the secrets and capabilities of companies,” adding, “We will support local companies to become self-competitive, moving away from an industrial structure dependent on large corporations.”