Pyeongtaek City Accelerates AI Transformation for Manufacturers... Recruiting Companies for 'AI Demonstration Project'

Pyeongtaek City and Pyeongtaek Industry Promotion Agency

Launching AI Demand-Based Demonstration Project

32 Million Won in Technical Support Per Company

Recruiting Participating Companies Until April 2

Pyeongtaek City and the Pyeongtaek Industry Promotion Agency announced on March 13 that they will begin building a manufacturing artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem, starting with the recruitment of companies for the "2026 AI Demand-Based Demonstration Project" to address the challenges faced by local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and mid-sized companies and to promote AI transformation (AX).

Pyeongtaek City, Pyeongtaek Industrial Promotion Agency, Promote AI Demand-Based Verification Project. Provided by Pyeongtaek City

This project, conducted in collaboration with Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), is an industry-academia cooperation-type AI demonstration project. UNIST researchers will be responsible for the technical implementation, supporting the development and proof of concept (PoC) of manufacturing data-based AI solutions for SMEs and mid-sized manufacturing companies located in Pyeongtaek City. The aim is to identify field problem-solving AI application cases and to derive a Pyeongtaek-style manufacturing AI innovation model.

This project will be operated in the form of a concentrated demonstration project based on on-site demand. A total of three companies will be selected, and each company will receive technical support, including manufacturing data-based AI demonstration, worth 32 million won per company. The selected companies will receive technological support focused on manufacturing data diagnostics, AI model design, implementation of core algorithms, and on-site demonstrations. The proof-of-concept phase is scheduled to run for approximately eight months, from April to November this year.

In addition, to help companies internalize AI capabilities, the "2026 Manufacturing AI Talent Development Program" will be promoted concurrently. The program will target about 210 participants, including employees of manufacturing companies in Pyeongtaek City and (prospective) entrepreneurs, and will be conducted in four stages, ranging from the basics of generative AI to the implementation of field-specialized chatbots.

In particular, to reduce the workload on employees, the program will be offered as short-term courses lasting one to two days, adopting a project-based learning (PBL) approach centered on practical training and hands-on projects. This will allow participants to acquire job-ready skills that can be immediately applied in the workplace. Recruitment for trainees is scheduled to start in April.

Lee Hakju, Director of the Pyeongtaek Industry Promotion Agency, stated, "Pyeongtaek is a leading manufacturing city in Korea, with advanced manufacturing industries such as semiconductors, hydrogen, and future mobility sectors concentrated here. Based on this industrial foundation, we will strengthen support to expand AI into manufacturing sites." He added, "The agency will continue to collaborate with universities and research institutes to support the adoption of AI by local manufacturing companies and will pursue various support projects to enhance manufacturing competitiveness."

Details of the "AI Demand-Based Demonstration Project" and application forms can be found on the Pyeongtaek Industry Promotion Agency website and the Pyeongtaek Business Support System. Applications will be accepted until April 2.

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