Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning Announces Final Selection Results for IoT Support Projects and Intensive Investment in IoT

The Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning (Minister Choi Yang-hee, hereinafter 'MSIT') announced the final selection results for the 2016 Internet of Things (IoT) support projects.

The Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning is promoting IoT support projects as part of the "K-ICT Strategy," which drives economic growth and job creation through ICT, in order to generate innovative results for the creative economy at an early stage.

This year, we are promoting support projects for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and venture companies specializing in the IoT field, as well as IoT convergence pilot complex development projects that solve urban issues such as traffic congestion through IoT in cooperation with local governments and private companies. These development projects include SME support projects (leading the development of new IoT industries, 5.63 billion KRW in 2016) and IoT convergence pilot complex development projects (2 billion KRW in 2016).


▲ Beacon-based mold history management (above) enhances the efficiency of the mold process by managing movement status, such as history and location, through the input of molds using industrial beacons. The smart Braille learning device assists in Braille learning by controlling the device via an app, enabling features such as Braille protrusion and voice guidance.

The IoT SME Support Program discovers creative ideas from capable small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and venture companies in the IoT field and supports their commercialization into products and services. To allow creative ideas from the private sector to develop freely, the program was conducted as an open call without specific areas (March 25–April 27), and a total of 28 projects were selected in the categories of 'Service Verification and Dissemination' and 'Convergence Product Commercialization'.

The 'Creation of an IoT Convergence Pilot Complex' project is a project in which local governments and private companies cooperate to solve chronic urban problems such as traffic and public safety using IoT. As a result of the open call for local governments and corporate consortia ('16.4.11~5.11), the Gyeonggi-do Goyang City and LG Uplus consortium was selected and will solve Goyang City's urban problems using IoT for the next two years.

Goyang City has identified three key areas of local concern (safety, environment, and energy) and services necessary for the region through a survey of citizens and relevant organizations, and plans to expand them after a two-year service demonstration. For example, in the case of the Clean Environment Notification Service, air quality measurement sensors will be installed at Goyang Lake Park to share environmental information with citizens.

Jang Seok-young, Director General of Internet Convergence Policy at the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning, stated, “We will focus on fostering capable IoT specialized companies through public-private cooperation-based IoT support projects and improving the quality of life for citizens through IoT to accelerate the IoT era.”