Seven Companies Selected for MOTIE's Smart Production Innovation Project
Securing 1 Billion KRW in National Funding... Expectations High for Technological Transformation
Jeollanam-do announced on the 6th that seven local companies have been selected for the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy's "2025 Smart Production Innovation Project" to support automation in small and medium-sized shipbuilding companies, securing 1 billion KRW in national funding.
The project, with a total budget of 6 billion KRW in 2025, will be jointly implemented by Jeollanam-do, Busan, Gyeongnam, and Ulsan, supporting smart production technologies such as digital transformation and educational programs.
The companies selected for the Smart Production Innovation Project are DHMC Co., Ltd. (one-stop production management), Taejin Co., Ltd. (automated workpiece recognition collaborative robot), Daeyeon Co., Ltd. (TIG automatic welding), Miju Industry (processing data management), Samju Co., Ltd. (platform component processing), Graso Co., Ltd. (GTAW welding robot), and Wonjin Enterprise LLC (information sharing and connectivity technology). Both block and outfitting companies are included.
This is expected to not only enhance the production efficiency of individual SMEs but also spread the automation boom throughout the shipbuilding industry.
Despite the recent boom in the shipbuilding industry, small and medium-sized shipbuilders have been facing a double challenge due to fierce competition from China and a severe labor shortage. The industry sees fundamental structural improvement through automation as a breakthrough and has actively requested support.
To reduce the burden of purchasing expensive automation equipment with no prior usage experience and to induce companies' own investment after verifying effectiveness in the field, Jeollanam-do has operated a "Specialized Technology Sharing Platform" (2021-2025) that rents automation equipment such as collaborative robots and pipe surface automatic cutting equipment to small and medium-sized shipbuilders.
Additionally, the local government supports the purchase of automation equipment, and HD Hyundai Samho is piloting a "win-win automation innovation project" responsible for after-sales management infrastructure.
It is expected that there will be a major innovation in after-sales management, such as software upgrades and A/S following process changes after automation equipment installation, which had previously been a challenge. From 2026, the plan is to fully launch the win-win automation project by attracting a national project worth 26 billion KRW.
Kwak Buyoung, Director of the Foundation Industry Division of Jeollanam-do, said, "The shipbuilding industry must move away from its traditional labor-intensive structure and develop into a high value-added advanced industry through automation and digital transformation," adding, "We will actively support Jeollanam-do's leap forward as a global leading city in AI-powered shipbuilding and marine industries."
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