Ministry of SMEs and Startups Launches Dedicated TF to Promote AI Utilization in Small and Medium Manufacturing

Formation of TF for Activation of Manufacturing AI and Fostering Smart Manufacturing Specialized Companies

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups recently announced on the 2nd that it plans to form and actively operate the 'SME Manufacturing AI Innovation Task Force (TF)' to help small and medium-sized manufacturers effectively adopt rapidly spreading artificial intelligence (AI) technology.

Currently, large domestic and international corporations are actively utilizing AI in manufacturing processes to increase productivity and reduce defect rates, achieving tangible results. However, small and medium-sized manufacturers face difficulties in adopting AI. In response, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups decided to systematically carry out tasks by forming the 'SME Manufacturing AI Innovation TF' to accelerate AI adoption among small and medium manufacturing enterprises.

The SME Manufacturing AI Innovation TF will consist of seven members and will be established within the existing Manufacturing Innovation Division to promote balanced smart manufacturing innovation policies. Additionally, a practical TF will be formed within the Smart Manufacturing Innovation Promotion Group under the Small and Medium Business Technology Information Promotion Agency, which is responsible for the dissemination of smart factories in manufacturing sites, to jointly establish and execute policies aligned with the Ministry’s policy direction.

The TF will establish and promote policies to foster smart manufacturing technology specialized companies that implement AI adoption in small and medium manufacturing sites. A new designation system for specialized companies will be introduced, and a smart manufacturing technology roadmap will be prepared to discover and systematically support companies with excellent technological capabilities. Furthermore, to strengthen the capabilities of specialized companies, customized technology development projects will be promoted, and official development assistance (ODA) projects in the smart manufacturing sector targeting countries such as Indonesia and Vietnam will also be planned.

Moreover, the currently operating AI manufacturing platform (KAMP) will be advanced to strengthen its role as a leading domestic manufacturing AI and data hub. Regional specialized manufacturing AI centers will be established this year in three regions nationwide to support local manufacturing companies in solving on-site problems through AI. To enable SMEs to utilize manufacturing data, which forms the basis of manufacturing AI, more broadly, standardization of manufacturing data based on international standards will be promoted, and demonstration projects for the field dissemination of manufacturing data will also be planned.

Kim Woo-jung, Director of Regional Enterprise Policy at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, stated, "Small and medium manufacturing enterprises facing difficulties such as high inflation and labor shortages urgently need government support to solve problems through digital transformation (DX) and AI transformation (AX)." He added, "Through the SME Manufacturing AI Innovation TF, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups will prepare policies to help small and medium manufacturers widely utilize AI and systematically support the growth of specialized companies executing DX and AX in manufacturing sites."