Realizing the World-Class Advanced Defense Industry City 'K-Defense New Industry Capital Gumi'!

Establishment of Korea's Top-Level K-Defense New Industry Cluster

Attracting Defense Anchor Institutions, Activating Industry-Academia-Research-Government-Military Cooperation

Strengthening Win-Win Cooperation Among Large, Small, and Venture

Gumi City in Gyeongbuk Province laid the foundation for realizing the "K-Defense New Industry Capital Gumi" through technology development and commercialization that link regional strategic industries with the five major new defense industries, following its designation as a Defense Industry Innovation Cluster in April.

Defense Industry National Assembly Forum.

The five major new defense industries refer to space, artificial intelligence (AI), manned-unmanned complex systems (drones), semiconductors, and robotics.

◆Support for Small and Venture Companies through Selection as a Defense Industry Innovation Cluster

The Gyeongbuk-Gumi Defense Industry Innovation Cluster project aims to foster defense small and venture companies and revitalize the defense industry by establishing an ecosystem for manned-unmanned complex systems. By 2027, a total of 49.9 billion KRW (24.5 billion KRW national funds, 7.62 billion KRW provincial funds, 17.78 billion KRW city funds) will be invested to ▲build an advanced defense industry promotion center ▲establish a specialized roadmap for manned-unmanned complex systems ▲construct and operate a defense-specialized development research institute ▲build infrastructure to support specialized research, testing, and demonstration ▲support commercialization of research and development outcomes ▲support defense startups and facilitate entry of excellent companies into the defense market, thereby providing full-cycle support for the growth of defense small and venture companies.

◆Establishment of the K-Defense New Industry Cluster Foundation

Gumi ranks second in domestic defense sales after Changwon but lacks government institutions (headquarters) related to defense and defense industries. Attracting a defense anchor institution is essential for the successful establishment of the cluster.

Accordingly, the city plans to enhance interest among companies and citizens in attracting national institutions by establishing promotion strategies through commissioned research and holding defense-related seminars and technology exchange meetings. It is also focusing on attracting a defense opportunity development special zone to promote corporate relocation and investment.

◆Strengthening Cooperation and Linkages among Industry, Academia, Research, Government, and Military

The city has regularly operated the Gumi Defense Industry Development Council, composed of local defense companies, universities, research institutes, and the military. In October 2022, the Gumi Defense Industry Companies Council was formed to explore joint cooperation plans between large and small-medium enterprises and build a network through mutual exchanges.

To create a communication platform for the "K-Defense New Industry Capital Gumi" and strengthen consensus on major policies, institutional promotion, and cluster expansion, the city plans to hold defense new industry forums such as space and missile forums and host defense parts and equipment exhibitions.

The city plans to visit Huntsville, known as "Rocket City," which has formed a missile and space defense-centered cluster, to benchmark the world-class defense space cluster. It will also establish "Team Gumi," brand and announce the vision of "K-Defense New Industry Capital Gumi," sign MOUs with global defense sister cities, and participate in overseas aerospace and defense-related exhibitions.

◆Strengthening Win-Win Cooperation between Large, Small, and Venture Companies

Due to the nature of state-led defense industries, small companies face high entry barriers and complex technology and production processes, making close cooperation between large companies and partners essential. The city will support win-win cooperation between defense large and small companies by creating a mutual cooperation fund and promoting joint overseas expansion projects to foster small companies.

The city will select 4 to 5 small companies annually with excellent technologies and high growth potential in the defense new industry fields (manned-unmanned complex systems, semiconductors, space, missiles, etc.) and provide customized support according to their growth stages through the "Gumi-type K-Defense New Industry 20 Project."

Additionally, the city plans to promote ▲activation of defense new industry startups linked to the Defense Industry Innovation Cluster ▲sign MOUs to strengthen defense export networks and support ▲invite defense attach? groups stationed in Korea to the Gumi defense cluster ▲support Gumi-type overseas defense exhibitions and export stepping stone projects ▲and support Gumi-type rapid acquisition projects focused on weapon systems applying new technologies.

Defense Industry Innovation Cluster Regional Council.

◆Establishment of K-Defense New Industry Governance

To strengthen the stepwise control tower, dedicated organization, and professional workforce leading the "K-Defense New Industry Capital Gumi," the city plans to expand defense industry cluster-related missions within the organization step by step, establish domestic and international advisory committees, and strengthen defense-related research organizations within Gyeongbuk Technopark, Gumi Chamber of Commerce, and GERI.

To seek development into a wide-area cluster related to defense and related industries like the four Gulf states in the U.S. and France, the city will expand continuous win-win cooperation by signing an MOU for the "Defense Industry Development Wide-area Cluster" with Gumi, Daejeon, and Changwon.

The city signed a business agreement in February with Kumoh National Institute of Technology to establish a defense industry contract department (AI) to respond to job demand in the defense new industry and foster talent linked to regional strategic industries, with research, testing, and demonstration infrastructure for manned-unmanned complex systems to be built at the Advanced Defense Industry Promotion Center scheduled for completion in 2024.

Various defense new industry education programs will be expanded mainly at local high schools, universities, and graduate schools to cultivate Gumi-type defense industry professionals.

Mayor Kim Jang-ho said, "We will enhance the global competitiveness of local defense small companies and attract large-scale investment from defense companies to the region through regulatory exemptions, various tax supports, and financial support by attracting the opportunity development special zone." He added, "Through the promotion of sector-specific tasks for fostering the defense industry, we will surely realize the world-class advanced defense city, 'K-Defense New Industry Capital Gumi.'"

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