Seoul City Invests 70 Billion Won to Develop 'Skilled Talent for Small Business Owners'

As part of the ‘Making Manufacturing Seoul’ initiative, the Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to enhance the manufacturing capabilities of small manufacturers by gradually smartifying existing manual workplaces, establishing a small manufacturers technology competition, and expanding opportunities for specialized high school students to take an interest in urban manufacturing sites, thereby increasing the likelihood of young talent entering industrial fields.

The city announced on the 5th that it will invest a total of 70 billion KRW over the next five years to improve the manufacturing innovation capabilities of small manufacturers by creating growth funds and promoting step-by-step smartification. The three main projects include ▲establishing technology innovation policy funds and expanding management consulting ▲building smart manufacturing environments (for 400 companies) ▲training skilled technical personnel (7,000 people).

First, special guarantees will be provided to promising manufacturing companies that possess excellent technology but have been unable to invest in technology development due to their small-scale business environment. Over five years, Seoul will invest 50 billion KRW to support funding for technology development, technology advancement, and smartification.

Additionally, for small manufacturers operating manual processes, priority support will be given to automation conversion using sensors, barcodes, etc., and a smart manufacturing environment will be established by integrating advanced technologies such as manufacturing process robotics and big data. By 2027, 40 billion KRW will be provided to 400 companies.

Through technical education and training, the city aims to cultivate skilled technicians in various fields and promote technology transfer by training 7,000 practical professionals by 2027. A manufacturing management academy will be operated for small manufacturers (100 companies annually) to provide pre-education on distribution channels and consulting related to market entry.

Furthermore, to break away from the outdated image of manufacturing and boost the morale of small manufacturers, 300 outstanding skilled technicians in fields such as jewelry and garment sewing will be discovered and awarded by 2027. To encourage young talent to enter industrial sites, a ‘Small Manufacturers Technology Competition’ will be newly established, and ‘Outstanding Small Manufacturers Site Tours’ will be operated for specialized high school students.

Kim Tae-gyun, Director of Seoul’s Economic Policy Office, said, “We hope that policy funds for technological innovation and safe management will provide practical support to small manufacturers, and that the establishment of smart manufacturing environments and expansion of support infrastructure will lead to improved productivity in urban manufacturing and the influx of new talent.”