Jinju-si, Promotion of Technology Development Support Project for Small and Medium Enterprises

Expectations for Resolving Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises' Difficulties Due to Prolonged COVID-19

Exterior view of the Root Technology Support Center [Image source=Jinju-si]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Soon-kyung] Jinju City, Gyeongnam Province, announced on the 13th that it will actively promote the ‘2021 Jinju City Small and Medium Enterprise Technology Support Project’ to resolve difficulties faced by local SMEs due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.

The city has subdivided the project areas to provide customized support with experts for the technologies needed from R&D to product manufacturing for SMEs. Support will be provided in three areas: technical support for difficulties (100 million KRW), process innovation and technology advancement support for material and component companies (150 million KRW), and support for technology development equipment usage fees (10 million KRW).

This project is funded with 260 million KRW by the city and is conducted by the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology Jinju Root Technology Support Center (hereafter, Technology Support Center). Recruitment of participants was announced on the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology website from the 7th, and selections will be made through a selection evaluation committee.

The city has made great efforts to expand vulnerable industrial infrastructure in the region. In September 2015, the Technology Support Center was opened in Jeongchon General Industrial Complex, and a 960,000㎡ root industry complex was constructed in the area of Yehari, Jeongchon-myeon, completed in January this year.

Since last year, to overcome the crisis of Japanese export regulations and COVID-19, the city has promoted strengthening the R&D capabilities of local SMEs and utilizing the equipment owned by the Technology Support Center with a budget of 260 million KRW. Through this, 13 cases of R&D support and 20 cases of equipment utilization achievements were accomplished.

A city official stated, “We plan to continue to provide policy and institutional support to proactively respond to the difficulties of local SMEs and to enable them to freely conduct R&D and production activities.”

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