Seoul Mapo, Gyeonggi Hwaseong, and Gyeongbuk Yeongju Selected as Additional Small Business Complex Support Centers

Comprehensive Support from Smart Manufacturing Equipment to Planning, Design, Product Development, Exhibition, and Sales in Small Business Clusters

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Cheol-hyun] The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (Minister Park Young-sun, hereinafter referred to as the Ministry) and the Small Enterprise and Market Service (Chairman Jo Bong-hwan) announced on the 8th that they have selected three locations for the establishment of Small Enterprise Complex Support Centers to promote the smartization of small manufacturers and the revitalization of industrial clusters, and will provide 7.5 billion KRW in national funding. The selected complex support centers are located in Mapo-gu, Seoul (Seogyo-dong printing), Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do (Bongdam-eup metal processing), and Yeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do (Punggi-eup ginseng), with a total project cost of 34.3 billion KRW including the national funding of 7.5 billion KRW.

The complex support centers will be equipped with advanced equipment necessary for product development and smart technology adoption by small manufacturers, exhibition, experience, and sales spaces for excellent products, education and collaboration spaces, and online marketing support studios tailored to the characteristics of each region. The Ministry and the respective local governments plan to provide one-stop support for small manufacturers in product planning, joint production, market development, and business model discovery through the complex support centers.

Mapo-gu, Seoul, will provide small manufacturer residential spaces, shared equipment, experience workshops, and convenience facilities, and plans to foster the printing industry integrated with culture and content such as the Design and Publishing Promotion District and Hongdae Design Valley. Gyeonggi-do and Hwaseong-si will establish special equipment and shared facilities such as 3D measuring machines, 3D printers, and machining centers to enhance the design capabilities and technical skills of metal processing small manufacturers, and promote the establishment of a 'Smart Metalworking Complex' for collaboration among small manufacturers. Gyeongsangbuk-do and Yeongju-si plan to introduce smart processing facilities, quality and safety inspection equipment, and create experience and cultural spaces to foster the ginseng processing industry utilizing the ginseng cluster, linking it with the local tourism industry.

The three selected local governments plan to establish the Small Enterprise Complex Support Centers by 2021. Including the two centers selected last year, the number of centers has expanded to a total of five regions. An official from the Ministry stated, "We plan to create one-stop support facilities reflecting the characteristics of industrial clusters in cooperation with local governments to support the smartization and competitiveness enhancement of small manufacturers," adding, "We will continue to expand the establishment of complex support centers to revitalize the regional economy and improve the overall competitiveness of the manufacturing industry."

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