The Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the Ministry of Data and Statistics (MODS) said on the 23rd that they have established a "special classification of smart manufacturing technology industry" to systematically categorize key products and services used to build smart factories, and will implement it starting on the 24th.
This special classification is the first standard to systematically categorize core smart manufacturing technologies such as AI, digital twin, industrial robots, and smart sensors from the perspective of industrial activity. It is significant in that it lays a foundation to link the digital and AI transition of the manufacturing sector to national statistics and industrial policy.
The newly prepared special classification of the smart manufacturing technology industry consists of four major categories: ▲ smart manufacturing automation equipment manufacturing ▲ smart manufacturing consolidation equipment manufacturing ▲ smart manufacturing informatization solution development and supply ▲ smart manufacturing intelligence services. These are further subdivided into seven medium categories and 34 subcategories, establishing a three-tier classification system in total.
To increase the utility of statistics, a linkage table with the Korea Standard Industrial Classification (KSIC) is also provided. For example, the "additive molding machinery manufacturing" in the special classification is linked to the "digital additive molding machinery manufacturing" in the KSIC, and details can be found on the statistics classification portal.
Since 2014, the government has supported the adoption and spread of smart factories among small and medium-sized corporations and mid-sized corporations, and the number of small and medium-sized corporations in the smart manufacturing technology field has steadily increased. However, compared with major advanced countries, the technology level is still low, and the foundation to systematically foster these corporations is not yet sufficient.
The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) has pushed to advance the smart manufacturing ecosystem by successively announcing the "plan to advance the smart manufacturing innovation ecosystem" in 2024, the "AI-based smart manufacturing innovation 3.0 strategy" in 2025, and the interagency "manufacturing AI 2030" in 2026. The establishment of this special classification is also a measure to strengthen the institutional foundation of such policies.
Going forward, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) plans to use the special classification to conduct regular surveys on small and medium-sized corporations in smart manufacturing technology and to support the development of a strategic technology roadmap and core technologies. It also plans to designate corporations with high growth potential as specialized corporations and foster them into smart manufacturing specialists with global competitiveness.
Kwon Soon-jae, director general for regional corporations policy at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS), said, "By establishing the special classification, we can identify the size and growth trends of the related smart manufacturing technology industry and eliminate blind spots in policy support," and added, "To support the discovery of capable small and medium-sized corporations in smart manufacturing technology, promote collaboration with demand-side corporations to improve productivity in small and medium-sized manufacturing, and support growth into global specialized corporations, we will focus on a full revision of the 'smart manufacturing innovation act' in the second half of 2026."