Samsung Electronics and Gyeonggi-do Join Hands to Build Smart Factories for SMEs

Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung (center) and Samsung Electronics CEO Kim Hyun-suk (fourth from the right), along with other attendees, are posing for a commemorative photo after concluding the "Gyeonggi Province-Samsung Electronics Business Agreement for Win-Win Cooperation between Large Corporations and Small and Medium Enterprises" held in the Gyeonggi Provincial Government Situation Room on the afternoon of the 30th.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyewon] Gyeonggi Province and Samsung Electronics have joined hands to strengthen the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and mid-sized companies. They have agreed to work together to support the establishment of smart factories, technology transfer, and market development for SMEs and mid-sized companies in the province to respond to the rapidly changing new environment caused by the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

On the 30th, Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung and Samsung Electronics CEO Kim Hyun-suk signed the "Gyeonggi Province-Samsung Electronics Business Agreement for Win-Win Cooperation between Large Corporations and SMEs/Mid-Sized Companies" at the Gyeonggi Provincial Government Situation Room.

This agreement aims to build a mutually complementary cooperative relationship by sharing not only simple technical support but also the experience, capabilities, and innovation know-how possessed by large corporations with SMEs and mid-sized companies, based on the core value of "fairness" of the 7th term of the provincial government. It is also the result of aligning interests with Samsung Electronics' smart factory establishment support project, which has been independently promoted since 2015 in accordance with Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong's social contribution philosophy of "Together."

According to the agreement, Gyeonggi Province and Samsung Electronics will mutually cooperate to promote a total of seven projects in three areas over two years from next year to 2022: ▲creating a smart working environment ▲establishing a platform for sharing excellent technologies ▲supporting market development for outstanding companies.

First, to create a smart working environment, they will promote the "Large-Small Win-Win Smart Factory Establishment Support Project," which supports manufacturing site innovation and the establishment of automated operation systems for SMEs and mid-sized companies in the province. Among these SMEs and mid-sized companies, Samsung Electronics' experts will provide consulting and workforce training through the "Post-Management Support Project" and the "Smart Factory Dedicated Workforce Training Support Project" to enable them to independently maintain and manage smart factory equipment systems.

Second, as part of establishing a platform for sharing excellent technologies, Samsung Electronics will promote the "Patent Technology Opening Project," which helps SMEs acquire patented technologies owned by Samsung Electronics.

Third, in the field of supporting market development for outstanding companies, Samsung Electronics will utilize its distribution channels to assist companies participating in Gyeonggi Province's job excellence certification system and parts localization support projects in developing domestic and international markets through the "Market Development Support Project for Win-Win Cooperation between Large Corporations and Job Excellence Companies" and the "Domestic and International Market Development Project for Parts Localization Companies."

Governor Lee said, "It is the government's role to create an environment where companies can innovate and demonstrate their capabilities fairly, and based on this, we must focus on cooperating to grow the overall pie. I appreciate Samsung Electronics for stepping up in social contribution. Gyeonggi Province will also actively cooperate and expand these efforts."

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