2024 2nd Future Innovation Committee Meeting Held
The Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business (Kbiz) announced on the 9th that it held the "2nd Small and Medium Enterprise Future Innovation Committee Meeting of 2024" at Hexa Human Care located in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province.
The committee was attended by about 10 representatives and experts from various industry cooperatives, including Chairman Han Byung-jun of the Korea Information Industry Cooperative, Chairman Park Jong-cheol of the Korea Unmanned Security Industry Cooperative, Chairman Lee Sung-moon of the Korea Education IT Service Industry Cooperative, Chairman Lee Jun-bok of the Korea Blockchain Business Cooperative, and Chairman Heo Ye-hoe of the Gyeonggi Incheon Machinery Industry Cooperative.
On the 6th, attendees of the '2024 2nd Future Innovation Committee for Small and Medium Enterprises' held at Hexa Human Care located in Ansan, Gyeonggi-do, are taking a group photo. Photo by Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business Associations
At this meeting, the committee toured industrial site applications of wearable robots designed to assist work and prevent worker illnesses in relation to the aging workforce in small and medium enterprises. Visiting Hexa Human Care, a small and medium enterprise manufacturing wearable robots, attendees observed wearable robot technologies and products and personally experienced lumbar support robots and rehabilitation robots.
According to last year’s Statistics Korea survey, the number of manufacturing workers aged 60 and over surpassed those in their 20s for the first time. Consequently, the burden of workforce management at sites has increased due to the rise in industrial accidents involving elderly workers. Attendees discussed the practical applications and effectiveness of wearable robots while touring the company’s research facilities.
Wearable robots refer to devices worn on the body that supplement muscular strength, reduce injury risks, and assist in overcoming disabilities. They are mainly used for rehabilitation therapy and prevention of musculoskeletal disorders in industrial sites, with demand rapidly increasing in industries involving heavy loading tasks such as logistics, ports, and construction.
Chairman Han Byung-jun stated, “Wearable robots can play an important role in preventing musculoskeletal disorders among field workers and managing site safety,” adding, “Government support measures, such as expanding the subsidy rate for introduction costs, should be enhanced to help small and medium enterprises with work assistance, process innovation, and compliance with the Serious Accidents Punishment Act.”
Yang Chan-hoe, Head of the Innovation Growth Division at the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business, said, “Kbiz continuously researches customized implementation tasks by industry, such as safety management through digital technologies like AI and robotics, and will widely promote successful cases,” adding, “We will strive to establish digital strategies that simultaneously achieve safety management and work efficiency by utilizing advanced technologies on site.”
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