The Korea Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises and the Association of Policies for SMEs and Startups said on the 3rd it held its spring academic conference at KBIZ in Yeouido, Seoul, under the theme of "regional innovation ecosystem and local small and medium-sized enterprises."
The conference was organized to explore strategies for building a region-based innovation ecosystem and for the growth of local small and medium venture companies amid a changing economic environment. Scholars, policy institutions, and industry experts took part. The program proceeded with a forum session, opening ceremony, main session, and general discussion.
At the small business forum, participants discussed the franchise business structure and win-win cooperation measures focusing on the issues of essential items and differential franchise fees, and at the policy finance forum, they presented ways to boost support for technology finance and green/transition finance. The win-win cooperation forum proposed directions for win-win cooperation policies, platform cooperation issues, and improvements to the system linking payments to suppliers' prices.
Jeon Jong-geun, president of the Association of Policies for SMEs and Startups, said in his opening remarks, "The national economy, including small and medium venture companies, is suffering greatly due to the war in Iran," and added, "At this conference, we addressed key topics such as easing small and medium-sized enterprises' energy expense burden, developing regional flagship industries, and supporting SMEs' carbon neutrality, with the goal of strengthening region-based innovation ecosystems."
Oh Gi-ung, executive vice chairman of KBIZ, said in his welcome address, "Sixty-three percent of SMEs outside the Seoul metropolitan area feel a gap in the business environment compared with the capital region, and the regional economy can gain self-sustaining power only when there is an ecosystem in which the SMEs that support local economies and jobs can innovate and grow," adding, "KBIZ will work to build a regional SME innovation ecosystem."
No Yong-seok, first vice minister of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, also said, "Creating a region-based innovation ecosystem and revitalizing technology startups are important tasks for strengthening national competitiveness and achieving balanced development," adding, "The government will continue policy efforts to support the growth and innovation of small and medium venture companies."
In the main session, Lee Byung-heon, a professor at Kwangwoon University, presented on "building a regional SME innovation ecosystem," and Han Jeong-hwa, chairman of the Korea Entrepreneurship Foundation, presented on "plans to revitalize local technology startups," offering strategies to create a region-based innovation ecosystem and promote technology entrepreneurship.