Smart services, new AI products, big data services
Ministry of SMEs and Startups invests a total of 31.3 billion won in three projects
A citizen evaluation panel system is also being introduced for R&D projects.


On the 24th, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced that it will promote the following initiatives to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) enhance their productivity and competitiveness by utilizing new technologies such as AI and big data: ▲ Smart Service Support Project for SMEs ▲ AI-based High Value-added New Product Technology Development Project ▲ Big Data-based Service Development R&D Project.

The Smart Service Support Project for SMEs is being implemented for the first time this year since the joint announcement of the Service Industry Innovation Strategy by relevant ministries last June.

It supports the establishment of a smart service foundation for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by implementing ICT solutions throughout the entire process of product and service production and distribution. Through this, SMEs are expected to be able to establish a proactive service base by enabling pre-diagnosis and demand forecasting.

The AI-based high-value-added new product technology development project is a program that supports the development of differentiated, high-value-added new products by integrating AI technology into existing products, such as AI speakers. It is expected to contribute to the formation of a virtuous cycle ecosystem where the expansion of AI-applied products leads to increased sales for specialized AI companies.

The Big Data-based Service Development R&D Project supports the development of innovative service models utilizing diverse private and public big data, enabling SMEs to secure competitiveness in new industrial sectors. Through this initiative, it is expected that the big data technological capabilities of SMEs will be strengthened, and they will be able to secure competitiveness in new industrial fields.

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups has decided to establish a system of cooperation among companies carrying out tasks and collaboration among relevant ministries when promoting individual new projects. It plans to identify representative cases for each project by supporting the formation of consortia and collaborative projects to enable SMEs to carry out tasks through open innovation. It also plans to increase the commercialization success rate of SMEs through collaboration with projects from the Ministry of Science and ICT, such as the AI Hub and Data Voucher.

Furthermore, we will identify user-centered projects closely aligned with the daily lives of citizens and establish a support system. When implementing smart service projects, we will support the implementation of customized ICT solutions for companies following corporate demand surveys and on-site evaluations, and identify common specialized solutions for each type.

We also plan to introduce a citizen evaluation panel system for R&D projects. Citizens will directly participate in the selection of projects to prioritize those closely related to people's daily lives and capable of solving social problems.

Detailed information, such as the business announcement, can be found on the Ministry of SMEs and Startups website , the Smart Factory Business Management System , and the Technology Development Business Comprehensive Management System .