The Ministry of SMEs and Startups said on the 12th it is recruiting "manufacturing-specialized" maker spaces that support the process from prototypes to initial mass production.
Maker spaces used equipment such as 3D printers and laser cutters to turn founders' ideas into prototypes. But many startups continued to face problems in the production transition stage after prototypes, including mass-production design and product certification.
To resolve this, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) will introduce a maker space "manufacturing-specialized model" starting this year and recruit participating companies from the 13th to the 3rd of next month. The plan is to support them to the level where products can be made and launched in the market.
This year, maker spaces will move beyond prototype-focused support to verify initial mass-production potential as well.
Previously, after a prototype was completed, founders had to handle the mass-production stage, but in manufacturing-specialized maker spaces, corporations with expertise participate to carry out design verification, process design, cost analysis, and mass-producibility assessments. Startups can move beyond the prototype stage to the actual production stage.
The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) plans to expand the number of host institutions for maker spaces from eight last year to 13 this year. Institutions (corporations) that have secured a dedicated space of at least 1,000㎡ and possess specialized equipment and personnel can apply by forming a consortium with specialized corporations that have capabilities in prototype production, mass-production design, product certification, and initial mass production.
Host institutions selected through evaluations will play a role in building regional manufacturing-specialized platforms that combine the process and mass-production capabilities of specialized corporations with the creative and experimental functions of maker spaces.
Startup Policy Director Cho Kyung-won said, "Maker spaces will be operated not as simple making spaces, but as manufacturing startup hubs that take responsibility together with specialized corporations through productization and initial mass production," and added, "We will realize a field-centered manufacturing startup ecosystem through maker spaces, where startups can make real products and take on the market."
Applications can be submitted on the K-Startup website. Afterward, the final support targets will be selected and supported through document and presentation evaluations. Details can be found in the announcement on the K-Startup website.