Five New Small Business Specialized Support Centers Selected

Support for Growth and Development of Small Local Manufacturers in Yeongwol, Gangwon; Yeongju, Gyeongbuk; Dong-gu, Gwangju; Daedeok, Daejeon; Geumjeong, Busan

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced on the 24th that it has newly selected five operating organizations for the ‘Specialized Support Centers for Small Manufacturers,’ which serve as hubs for strengthening the competitiveness and innovative growth of small manufacturers in industrial clusters.

The newly selected operating organizations are ▲ Yeongwol Industrial Promotion Agency (Yeongwol, Gangwon) ▲ East Sea Industrial Research Institute (Yeongju, Gyeongbuk) ▲ Chosun University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation (Dong-gu, Gwangju) ▲ Daedeok Economic Foundation (Daedeok-gu, Daejeon) ▲ Busan-Gyeongnam Sewing Industry Cooperative (Geumjeong-gu, Busan). The selection was made comprehensively considering regions and industries not previously designated for centers to promote balanced regional development and industry-specific support.

In particular, Yeongwol Industrial Promotion Agency and East Sea Industrial Research Institute are the first specialized support centers established in the Gangwon and Gyeongbuk regions. They plan to foster the food industry in the form of the sixth industrialization by developing products using local specialties and pioneering sales channels combined with regional tourism.

Including the five newly selected centers, a total of 42 specialized support centers nationwide operate with government funding of approximately 320 million KRW and investments from local governments. These centers provide tailored support projects such as guidance on government support policies, consultations, management and technical education, and consulting for small manufacturers within industrial clusters.

Won Young-jun, Director of the Small Business Policy Office, stated, “The Ministry of SMEs and Startups aims to make 2024 the first year of a new leap forward for small manufacturers and plans to implement customized policies that meet their demands. We will continue to provide region- and industry-specific tailored support through the specialized support centers, which work closely with small manufacturers and offer field-based assistance, to lead their innovative growth.”