The Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM, President Ryu Seok-hyun) is strengthening cooperation with small and medium-sized enterprises in the Daejeon area and spurring the digital transformation of local industries and enhancing technological competitiveness.

On the 6th, the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials signed a 'Business Agreement for Supporting Technology Development (Technology Commercialization) of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises' with the Daejeon Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Chairman Taehee Jeong).

Through this agreement ceremony, the two organizations agreed to cooperate in the following areas: △cooperation in the tour and use of research facilities, △support for technical difficulties faced by SMEs, △support for the commercialization of technologies owned by SMEs and strengthening of their competitiveness, △recruitment of companies to participate in technology exchange and technology transfer seminars, and △establishment and participation in a support network between the two organizations.

In addition, the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials is expanding and operating customized support programs for companies to create a sustainable cooperation ecosystem between companies and lead the development of regional industries.

In addition, the Korea Mechanical Engineering & Construction Institute operates various support systems to solve technical problems of local companies and enhance their innovation capabilities.

Depending on the growth stage and technological needs of the company, we provide customized programs such as ▲support for difficult technologies ▲support for family businesses ▲support for technology commercialization R&D (ACE), and we are building a win-win model through continuous and in-depth cooperation with companies.

At the end of last year, a 'postpaid R&D pilot project' was planned based on a demand survey targeting companies.‘Up’ will also be implemented in earnest starting this year.

This business is a unique method in which the Korea Mechanical Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd. conducts research and development by investing its own budget in advance, and then signs a technology fee contract when a company satisfactorily utilizes the technology. Through this, it is expected to reduce the initial burden of technology development and enhance the innovation capacity of the company.

Introduction of K-Partners Program The newly introduced 'K-Partners Program' focuses on building a cooperative ecosystem that enables industry-to-industry cooperation centered on the platform of the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials.

This program is expected to contribute to activating corporate cooperation by strategic industry and accelerating technology commercialization utilizing the technologies owned by the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials.

Strengthening cooperation with Daejeon area companies Cooperation with Daejeon area small and medium-sized enterprises will also be further expanded. Along with existing corporate support programs, the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials will discover specific needs of local companies and support the strengthening of competitiveness of local companies through family companies, postpaid R&D, and K-Partners programs.

Through this, we aim to lay the foundation for sustainable growth and play an important role in the development of local industries.

Ryu Seok-hyun, the president of the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials, said, “Through this agreement, we will establish a system for regular technology consultations and continuous technology demand discovery,” and “In particular, we will contribute to the development of the local economy through fostering regional strategic businesses and digital transformation.”