The government has launched active support measures, including the establishment of an "AI Fast Track," to foster the technological growth of artificial intelligence (AI) companies entering the public procurement market.
On February 27, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Strategy and Finance Koo Yoonchul visited Neuromeka, an AI-based robotics manufacturing innovation company located in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, to inspect the site firsthand. He also held a meeting with the heads of innovative AI procurement companies to listen to difficulties experienced in the field.
This site visit was arranged to directly observe the market entry and growth process of innovative procurement companies that have entered the AI industry, which is attracting attention as a future growth engine for the nation. The purpose was also to hear the vivid voices from the field and to check the real-world impact of procurement policies.
During the on-site meeting, representatives of innovative AI procurement companies proposed expanding support and improving systems in the public procurement sector to quickly reflect rapidly changing technology trends and strengthen competitiveness in AI technology. They requested the government to play an active role in lowering market entry barriers through the introduction of a separate review system for AI products and expanding pilot purchases. They also asked for increased support for products using domestically produced NPUs and for the expansion of domestic component usage within the public market to help build a self-sustaining AI industrial ecosystem.
Koo Yoonchul, Deputy Prime Minister for Economy and Minister of Finance and Economy. Photo by Jo Yongjun
In response, Deputy Prime Minister Koo promised, "The AI industry is characterized by rapidly changing technology trends and requires significant costs and time in development and demonstration. The government will focus its capabilities on strengthening the institutional foundation to provide robust support."
Specifically, starting from September, the government will introduce an "AI-dedicated track" for innovative and outstanding AI products to support their swift entry into the public market. In addition, a requirement will be implemented for innovative products to use at least 50% domestic components, thereby strengthening links with domestic supply chains. The amount allocated for pilot purchases of innovative products will also be increased from 52.9 billion won last year to 83.9 billion won this year. Promising AI products and services will be actively discovered to provide close support for the national AI transformation (AX).
Deputy Prime Minister Koo stated, "AI is a core strategy that will determine the nation's future. Public procurement will serve as a catalyst for AI innovation, changing people’s lives and becoming a stepping stone for companies to leap into the global market."
Meanwhile, Neuromeka is a leading intelligent robotics company that has internalized the entire process from the design of key robot components to the production of finished products, including robotic arms, autonomous mobile robots, and humanoids. Designated as an innovative product in June 2021, it has established itself in the domestic procurement market and, based on this, has acquired more than 50 domestic and international patents and has been selected as the top company in the robotics industry nine times, continuing its rapid growth. Deputy Prime Minister Koo toured the company’s research lab and listened in-depth to the background of product development, the process of market entry, and future business plans.
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