Additional Support for Global Expansion
The Ministry of SMEs and Startups will provide technology commercialization funds to foster promising artificial intelligence (AI) startups. Among the promising AI and AI transformation (AX) startups selected for this project, companies that achieve outstanding results will receive additional support for global expansion.
On the 4th, the Ministry announced the 'AI Core Fields and Promising AX Startup Fostering Project.' This project corresponds to the newly established first phase 'Micro Super-gap' program of the three-phase 'Super-gap Startup 1000+ Project' announced last month. It is also the first new project to implement the 'Super-gap Startup Level-up Strategy' announced by the Ministry last July to intensively nurture AI startups.
Support for 5 AI Companies and 15 AX Companies
Through this announcement, the Ministry plans to select a total of 20 promising AI and AX startups. First, in the AI field, five promising AI startups in high-growth areas such as small language models (sLLM), manufacturing, bio, and content will be selected and provided with up to 150 million KRW in technology commercialization funds for technology advancement. Additionally, depending on the characteristics of each field, the lead organization, the 'AI Convergence Business Group,' will support the use of GPU-based AI computers and infrastructure such as demonstration centers. The selected companies will include 2 sLLM companies, 1 manufacturing AI company, 1 bio AI company, and 1 content AI company.
In the AX field, 15 AX startups with innovative AI technologies in three major sectors?manufacturing, bio, and content?where economic and social outcomes are easily achievable, will be selected. Selected companies will receive 80 million KRW in collaboration funds and support for securing new sales channels.
Applications for the project will be accepted from the 5th to the 25th. Among the startups selected and supported in this project, those that achieve excellent results will receive additional support to enter the global market in connection with the 'Super-gap Startup' project. The Super-gap Startup project is a national initiative that selects and intensively nurtures over 1,000 innovative deep-tech startups in 10 new industries, including system semiconductors and AI, over five years. It provides up to 600 million KRW in technology commercialization funds over three years and 1 billion KRW in follow-up scale-up funds over two years.
Follow-up Projects Related to the 'AI Startup Level-up Strategy'
Furthermore, the Ministry plans to continuously announce follow-up projects related to the Super-gap AI Startup Level-up Strategy after this announcement. First, following last year, the 'AI Super-gap Challenge,' which induces commercialization and secures sales channels through demand-based collaboration between global large corporations and promising domestic AI startups, will be announced at the end of February. Notably, this year, in collaboration with LG Electronics, the 'On-device AI' device products will expand the collaboration field from existing laptops to TVs. Additionally, a new collaboration opportunity will be provided with Qualcomm Korea in the 'Vertical AI' field (AI solutions specialized for specific industries or sectors). Collaborations with other new big tech companies will also continue to expand.
In April, the 'AI Regional Key Industry Linkage Project' will also be announced, matching innovative AI startups and AX collaborations based on AI technology demand from leading regional small and medium manufacturing enterprises operating in regional key industries.
Minister Oh Young-joo stated, "AI is a core field that determines not only industries but also the fate of the nation. To foster the growth of AI startups in high-growth sectors, we announced the 'Super-gap AI Startup Level-up Strategy' last year. This project is the first to implement the level-up strategy, and we will continue to promote follow-up support projects to ensure the strategy is carried out without any setbacks."
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