The government has launched a dedicated task force to drive the "15 mega-innovation economy projects."
Gu Yoon-cheol, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, said in a video message at the task force launch ceremony held on the 16th at the Sejong City Local Autonomy Hall, "The 20 task forces launched today are the focal point that will lead the success of the mega-innovation economy projects," adding, "The government, under the belief that the growth of corporations is the nation's development, will mobilize all policy tools—fiscal, tax, finance, workforce, and regulation—to provide support."
Earlier, the government unveiled the 15 mega-innovation economy tasks along with the artificial intelligence (AI) grand transformation project last month. On the 10th of this month, it announced the first implementation plans in six fields: SiC power semiconductors, graphene, LNG cargo tanks, special carbon steel, and K-food.
The task forces will be operated with corporations at the center, with the lead ministries, related agencies, and the Ministry of Economy and Finance participating. Corporations will handle technology development and demonstration, commercialization, and entry into overseas markets, and will convey industry opinions and on-site difficulties to the government. Not only large corporations but also mid-sized and small corporations are expected to participate evenly.
The lead ministries will manage progress through regular meetings and on-site inspections and encourage participation by local governments for tasks linked to regional industries. At the Ministry of Economy and Finance, 10 Director General-level officials will be designated as "mega-innovation economy support officers" and assigned to each task force to help resolve issues related to fiscal, tax, finance, and regulation.
The government plans to complete the formation of the task forces within this month and prepare road maps and detailed action plans for each task by Nov. 30. The direction of implementation will be finalized by the growth strategy task force (TF) chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Gu and reviewed for progress and support measures through the ministers' meeting on strengthening industrial competitiveness.
In addition, the "project working-level promotion council," which includes the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Economy and Finance and senior Grade-1 officials from the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, will handle continuous monitoring and inter-ministerial coordination. The New Growth Strategy Planning and Promotion Team at the Ministry of Economy and Finance will support the operation of the task forces and the council's activities and is expected to be expanded and reorganized into the "mega-innovation economy promotion group."