With the urgent need to develop the domestic deep tech startup ecosystem to lead the market in future new growth sectors, a meeting was held where government ministries and innovative companies came together to discuss development strategies.

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups held the '3rd SME Innovation Network Forum' at the Ramada Plaza Hotel in Jeju from the 24th to the 25th.

The 3rd forum was held under the theme 'Next Challenge, Scale-up Strategies for Fostering Global Deep Tech'.

On the first day, following a keynote speech by Kim Jeong-bin, CEO of the AI-based climate tech startup Superbin, operational plans were announced for the five newly reorganized divisions: AI, Carbon Neutrality, Bio, Semiconductor, and Global Linkage & Policy.

In addition, discussions on carbon neutrality response strategies for SMEs proceeded, starting with a policy proposal for the restructuring of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups' R&D portfolio by Dr. Park Chan-soo of STEPI and a presentation by Chairman Jeon Ha-jin of the SDX Foundation.

Day 2 features a customized service for sole proprietors by CEO Kim Dong-ho of Korea Credit Data, which grew into a unicorn company in just six years.This was followed by a special lecture on the theme of "Leading DX," a presentation and discussion on global technology cooperation strategies for small and medium-sized enterprises and venture companies by CEO Ko Jong-seong of Genosco, a successful case study of a Boston biotech company.

In particular, at this event, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups will announce the newly revised 'SME R&D Structural Reform Plan,' based on the awareness that despite the expansion of the budget, R&D has remained limited to project-based execution, lacking long-term strategic depth for ecosystems across different corporate groups.

The plan involves simplifying compartmentalized structures and the excessive number of projects (48 as of 2023), and enhancing strategic depth through a two-track strategy based on innovation capabilities. It plans to promote large-scale innovation projects based on strategic technology themes for the group of leading innovation companies, while supporting the dissemination of practical R&D outcomes, such as industry-specific common demand R&D, for the general group of companies. In addition, we plan to expand joint R&D with leading global research institutions.
Vice Minister Oh Gi-woong of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups stated, “I ask that the Innovation Network Forum, now in its third year, continue to provide direction as a think tank for technology innovation strategies. The Ministry of SMEs and Startups will also strengthen the strategic nature of R&D from the perspective of end-users in the field and actively support the innovation and scale-up of SMEs through collaboration with leading global research institutions.”

Meanwhile, the 'SME Innovation Network Forum' is a think tank that seeks strategic directions for technology innovation in SMEs and ventures. It was launched in July 2020 with experts from SMEs, venture companies, investors, researchers, and support organizations, and is operated by the Minister of SMEs and Ventures and the President of KAIST as co-chairs.