Even Small and Medium Enterprises Begin Full-Scale Shift to Remote Work and Video Conferencing...

Over 3,000 Small and Medium Enterprises Apply for the 'Contactless Service Voucher Project' Demand

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Cheol-hyun] The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (Minister Park Young-sun, hereinafter referred to as the Ministry) announced on the 6th that 613 supply companies have applied for the implementation of the 'Non-face-to-face Service Voucher Project,' and more than 3,000 demand companies have already applied, with applications being accepted until the budget is exhausted within the year.

The 'Non-face-to-face Service Voucher Project' is a program that supports the costs required for using non-face-to-face services such as video conferencing and telecommuting to promote digital transformation and establish a non-face-to-face work environment for small and medium enterprises. The scale is 288 billion KRW secured through the third supplementary budget this year, and the number of companies expected to be supported is 80,000.

A total of 613 small and medium-sized enterprises and mid-sized companies applied in the supply company sector, which has closed for applications, and there are 964 services based on the service. To determine whether non-face-to-face services are provided in six areas such as video conferencing and telecommuting, the companies' service histories will be reviewed, and supply companies will be finally selected in September through evaluations by experts and demanders.

Demand companies can apply until the budget is exhausted within the year, and since the application started on the 19th of last month, 3,413 companies had applied as of the 2nd. Applications continue steadily even though service supply companies have not yet been selected, so once service supply is in full swing, the pace of project applications is expected to accelerate.

When selected as a demand company, vouchers are provided, allowing the use of services provided by supply companies through the 'K-Non-face-to-face Voucher Platform' within a limit of 4 million KRW for up to 8 months. The platform, where demand companies select services from supply companies, is scheduled to open this month after pilot testing and the supply company selection process.

Demand companies wishing to use the service can apply through the K-Startup website, and once the 'K-Non-face-to-face Voucher Platform' service begins, applications will also be possible through the platform. Kim Juhwa, head of the Non-face-to-face Economy Division at the Ministry, said, "Small and medium enterprises face many difficulties in establishing a non-face-to-face work environment such as telecommuting amid the spread of COVID-19 due to company management conditions and system deficiencies," and emphasized, "We will promptly complete the selection of supply companies and the establishment of the voucher platform so that small and medium enterprises can quickly transition to a non-face-to-face work environment."

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