66 Additional Institutions Selected to Host 'Makerspace'

Source: Ministry of SMEs and Startups

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daeseop] The Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced on the 6th that it has selected an additional 66 institutions to lead the '2020 Makerspace Establishment and Operation Project,' which supports innovative creative activities.

Makerspaces are creative spaces where anyone can visit and turn their ideas into prototypes. As of the end of last year, 123 makerspaces are in operation, including 8 specialized labs and 115 general labs. This year, 62 general labs and 4 specialized labs across 17 cities and provinces nationwide were additionally selected.

General labs, which are community-based creative spaces where anyone can realize their imagination and ideas, will receive up to 500 million KRW over five years, while specialized labs, serving as hubs for professional creative activities within the region, will receive up to 4 billion KRW over five years to support space and equipment establishment and operation costs. The support period is up to five years (3+2 years), with differentiated support based on annual performance evaluations.

Looking at this year’s makerspace selection status, there is a noticeable trend of specialization shifting from manufacturing-centered to content, information and communication technology (ICT), and bio sectors, reflecting new demands in the digital transformation era.

Yoon Seok-bae, Director of Startup Ecosystem Formation at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, said, "Currently, makerspaces based on manufacturing are somewhat established. Going forward, we will actively support specialized and professional fields such as digital, content, and bio, where demand is increasing due to COVID-19 and other factors."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.