The government will invest a total of 754 billion won over two years through next year to support the development and commercialization of 246 artificial intelligence (AI) products and services.
The Ministry of Planning and Budget and other relevant ministries said on the 18th at a joint Emergency Economic Ministers' Meeting and Supply Chain Stabilization Committee meeting that they would push an "AI application products rapid commercialization support program." The government said, "In Korea, interest in AI is high, but there is an assessment that the pace of AI transformation (AX) is sluggish."
The government plans to focus support on products and services that can be launched in the market in a short period in sectors closely tied to industry and daily life. The budget allocates 614 billion won to grants and subsidies and 140 billion won to dedicated loan financing.
As examples of supported projects, the manufacturing sector includes a "robot EV charging system." Currently, users connect charging cables and make payments themselves to charge EVs, but robots would handle charging so automatic charging is possible during work hours and at night. Also, small and medium-sized manufacturing corporations rely heavily on the personal experience and intuitive judgments of highly skilled workers; there is also "smart glasses" (smart eyewear) that accumulate such know-how as data and give real-time work instructions to novice workers.
In agriculture, livestock, and fisheries, there is a "slaughter AI robot." It would have robots equipped with irregular biometric recognition AI perform slaughtering and processing steps that skilled workers previously carried out by hand. In addition, the program will support AI products and services across five major areas, including ▲ land and transport ▲ health, welfare, and environment ▲ daily life, security, and defense.
Corporations that have products with a certain level of technology readiness (TRL stages 4–8 or higher) and can be commercialized within one to two years are eligible to apply. Selected corporations can use project funds for expense to secure hardware and software for AI model development, demonstration and mass production expense, certification and intellectual property acquisition expense, and publicity expense.
For details, refer to notices to be posted starting on the 19th by each ministry, including the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources, the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the Ministery of Food and Drug Safety, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the Ministry of National Defense. Final selection and agreement signing are scheduled for the second quarter of this year.