The Secret to SME Competitiveness: 'Smart Factories' Gathered in One Place

'2022 Smart Manufacturing Innovation Expo' Held from 5th to 7th

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghyun Choi] The Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced on the 5th that it held the '2022 Smart Manufacturing Innovation Expo,' featuring 70 companies leading manufacturing innovation through smart factories.

The Smart Manufacturing Innovation Expo was held to widely inform the public about the achievements of smart manufacturing innovation created through cooperation between the government, small and medium enterprises, and large corporations, and to present the direction for the smart transformation of small and medium manufacturing industries in response to the rapidly changing digital transformation era. The event is being held from today until the 7th at the Seoul aT Center.

This expo is organized under the slogan "The Roar of Smart Manufacturing Innovation, Growing Together Korea," and includes detailed events such as ▲Meritorious Service Awards ▲Exhibition Hall ▲Business Consultation Meetings ▲Conferences ▲Artificial Intelligence Competitions.

A total of 70 companies are participating in the exhibition hall, showcasing autonomous production technologies such as digital twins, artificial intelligence solutions, and collaborative robots. Various conferences where attendees can hear about issues and trends related to smart manufacturing innovation are also being held.

In particular, to support smart factory demand companies, there is guidance on policy funds and technical workforce support systems, as well as business consultation desks with companies supplying various solutions and linked equipment installed in smart factories, providing one-stop support for the digital transformation of manufacturing.

At the opening ceremony, Vice Minister Jo Joo-hyun of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups awarded a total of 22 honors, including the Presidential Citation (Neonant) and the Prime Minister's Citation (Hwang Chang-hee, CEO of Myungkwang), as well as 20 citations from the Minister of SMEs and Startups, to those who contributed to manufacturing innovation and national economic development.

In his congratulatory speech, Vice Minister Jo said, "Korea has the second highest manufacturing share relative to GDP in the world, and the source of domestic manufacturing competitiveness has been the efforts and passion of small and medium enterprises that continuously challenge and innovate. The government will overcome the triple crisis of high prices and other challenges, and advance to become a smart manufacturing powerhouse in the digital transformation era by expanding advanced smart factories, building strategic smart factories through inter-ministerial cooperation, and expanding win-win support between the public and private sectors."

Meanwhile, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups plans to newly establish a 'Smart Transformation Promotion Strategy for Small and Medium Manufacturing Industries' in the first half of next year.