Minister Han Seong-suk of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups on the 1st emphasized an innovative AI industry ecosystem for the AI great transition (AX) of SMEs and small merchants.
Minister Han visited AI startup Wrtn Technologies in Seocho District, Seoul, that day, held an "innovative AI startup roundtable," and said, "We are trying to create a venue for consolidation between innovative startups that supply AI technology and manufacturing SMEs that are demand corporations."
Minister Han said, "Broadly, the domestic SME ecosystem is divided into two sectors: traditional manufacturing SMEs and startups," adding, "These two industries have a language barrier and operate in different worlds, so it seems hard for them to meet." Minister Han went on to emphasize, "For the AX of SMEs and small merchants, we will create a venue where innovative startups that are AI technology supply corporations and manufacturing SMEs that apply this technology can meet."
Minister Han said, "We are also considering testing which parts on the ground SMEs should apply AI to and how the effects will appear."
Regarding the growth of innovative AI startups, Minister Han said, "There are concerns that if an AI startup selected for the Ministry of SMEs and Startups' TIPS receives investment and support for technology development but then sees funding cut off, that technology could disappear from the market," adding, "We are also considering growth-support routes such as investments that can continue from the Ministry of SMEs and Startups to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy after support for innovative AI startups."
Minister Han also said, "It is hard for SMEs to recruit AI development personnel, and AX is not easy with only temporary consulting by outside experts."
Minister Han said, "We will strengthen open innovation to identify AI demand corporations optimized for the value chains of key industrial sectors such as manufacturing and bio, and to enable securing both AX and sales channels simultaneously through collaboration with innovative AI startups."