'2024 Small and Medium Business Innovation Network Forum' Held

Think Tank for Technology Innovation Policies in Small and Medium Ventures

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced that it will hold the '2024 SME Innovation Network Forum' over two days from the 13th to the 14th at the Ramada Plaza Hotel in Jeju. The 'SME Innovation Network Forum' is a think tank that explores strategic directions for technology innovation in SMEs and startups. It was launched in 2020 and is composed of SMEs, startups, investors, researchers, and experts from support organizations. It is co-chaired by the Minister of SMEs and Startups and the President of KAIST.

This year's 2024 forum is held under the theme 'Global R&D Innovation Strategy for SMEs and Startups Leading the Future in the AX Era.' On the first day, policy reports were presented by five subcommittees covering artificial intelligence (AI), carbon neutrality, bio, semiconductors, and global linkage and policy. Discussions were also held on the 'AX Transition Outlook and SME and Startup Response Strategies.' On the second day, sessions on the 'Operation Status and Future Plans of the SME and Startup Technology Innovation Policy Research Center' and the '2024 DCP (Strategic Technology Theme Projects) Operation Guide' followed.

To promote global R&D, a signing ceremony for agreements between leading innovation institutions from various countries was also held. Taking this agreement as an opportunity, four leading institutions?MIT, Purdue, Pasteur, and Fraunhofer?plan to mutually cooperate in various fields such as discovering and supporting research themes with overseas leading research institutions for our SMEs' global R&D, building overseas networks, and supporting subsequent commercialization.

Minister Oh Young-joo of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups said, “As the Innovation Network Forum marks its fifth year this year, I ask that it faithfully provide policy advice on technology innovation for SMEs, including AI transition and global R&D. The Ministry will also support technology innovation in SMEs through collaboration with global leading institutions from the perspective of R&D researchers in the field.”