Daedeok Innopolis Venture Association Drives Innovative Growth of Daedeok Special Zone Companies Through Technology and Management Consulting

Driving Innovative Growth of Local Companies by Utilizing High-Experienced Scientists and Current Field Experts from Daedeok Techno Valley SME and Venture Special Zone

The Daedeok Innopolis Venture Association (Chairman Kim Byung-soon, hereinafter referred to as the Venture Association) announced that the "Senior Job Creation Support Project" (hereinafter referred to as the Support Project), which supports the resolution of technical difficulties for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Daejeon in cooperation with the Technology Clinic Center, a group of scientists and engineers from the Daedeok Special Zone, has produced visible results and concluded the project.

The Support Project is a program that supports cooperative startup and concurrent positions for highly experienced researchers 3 to 5 years before retirement, while providing technology commercialization and technical consulting to SMEs and venture companies through them. It was initiated to help senior experts with accumulated expertise and experience prepare for life after retirement even before they retire.

The Venture Association, a representative business organization with member companies consisting of SMEs and venture companies in the Daedeok Special Zone, played a role in surveying the demand for product and service technology difficulties faced by companies and linking them to retired scientists and engineers from the Special Zone to resolve these issues.

Since its launch in July 2021, the Support Project saw a concentrated demand for technical experts, with about 190 company demands collected within just four months of the project’s start.

Among these, 84.4% were matched and linked with technical doctors, allowing local SMEs and venture companies to receive consulting support in the form of on-site visits by technical doctors who provided data, conducted interviews, and proposed solutions.

With optimized technical experts matched across various fields such as machinery, bio, chemistry, information and communication, and materials, parts, and equipment, companies had the opportunity to approach urgent issues they faced from new perspectives through external experts.

In addition, the Venture Association provided short-term mentoring on patent law, corporate innovation certification, initial public offering (IPO), and employment law for SMEs and venture companies facing unstable management conditions due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.

Not stopping at resolving technical difficulties through technical experts, mentoring by current professionals was provided to suggest solutions for difficulties and improvement directions so that technology-centered companies could sustain growth.

In particular, practical consulting in the newly established IPO field this year was highly appreciated by participating companies preparing for stock listing as realistic advice.

A Venture Association official stated, "It is significant that the rich experience and know-how of retired scientists and engineers are not wasted but utilized in the R&D of small businesses," adding, "It is also a project that aligns with the trend of an aging society by extending the economic activity period after the retirement age of scientists and engineers."

Meanwhile, the Venture Association will conduct a demand survey for companies wishing to receive technical consulting support through this project in 2022. Responses to the preliminary demand survey can be submitted via the Venture Association website until May 20.