AX Innovation Index of Korean Venture Companies Scores 48... "Initial Implementation Stage"

by Kim Chulhyun

Published 27 Apr.2026 08:25(KST)

KIBO Releases Results of AX Status Analysis

The level of artificial intelligence transformation (AX) among domestic venture companies remains at the “initial implementation stage.” This indicates that the industry is currently in a transitional phase before entering the mature stage where AI adoption becomes widespread, and that the effects of AI adoption have not yet materialized into tangible results.

On April 27, Korea Technology Finance Corporation (KIBO) announced the results of its “AX Innovation Index Analysis for Small and Venture Businesses,” which offers an in-depth diagnosis of the AX status among Korean venture companies. The assessment, conducted last month in collaboration with the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the Korea Venture Business Association, targeted all domestic venture companies and utilized KIBO’s self-developed “AX Innovation Index.” The analysis was based on responses from a total of 437 participating venture companies and achieved a reliability level of 95% with a sampling error of ±4.7 percentage points, ensuring the credibility of the findings.

According to the analysis, the average composite AX Innovation Index for domestic venture companies was found to be 48.0 points. Breaking it down, there was a significant gap between the members’ willingness to drive AX (65.8 points) and the level of infrastructure (28.8 points). While many companies agree on the necessity of AX, an imbalance exists in practical implementation due to insufficient budget and manpower. This suggests that policy support is required to accelerate AX among venture companies.

AX Innovation Index of Korean Venture Companies Scores 48... "Initial Implementation Stage"

By company characteristics, small-scale and startup companies were found to respond more flexibly to AX than large-scale and non-startup companies. Companies with annual sales of 1 billion won or less (55.4 points) and startups less than three years old (54.5 points) were each found to pursue transformation more rapidly than companies with annual sales exceeding 5 billion won (39.5 points) and those established for more than seven years (44.5 points). By industry, there was a marked gap between technology services (58.9 points) and manufacturing (39.3 points), indicating the need for customized support that reflects industry characteristics.

Regionally, the Honam region (53.5 points) and Southeast region (53.1 points) outperformed the Seoul metropolitan area (48.8 points), leveraging connections with local strategic industries and confirming the potential for AX expansion centered on non-metropolitan areas. KIBO plans to use the results of this analysis to develop tailored policy tasks according to the AX level of each company and to strengthen policy cooperation with relevant ministries. The company will also focus financial support on “AI core companies” with AI technology and “AX innovation companies” integrating these technologies, while expanding its role as a bridge to address manpower shortages in the field.

Kim Joungho, Executive Director of KIBO, stated, “This analysis is significant in that it diagnoses the current state of AI transformation among venture companies based on data and suggests a path forward,” adding, “KIBO will expand policy support to accelerate AI transformation and enhance the global competitiveness of small and venture businesses.”