Connecting Master Craftsmanship with AI... Ministry Allocates 48 Billion Won to 'Tacit Knowledge M.AX' Project

Yonhap News Agency

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The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy is promoting a project to implement the experience and know-how of skilled manufacturing workers as artificial intelligence (AI) through a “tacit knowledge-based manufacturing innovation” initiative.

On April 28, the Ministry announced the launch of the “AI Model Development Project Based on Manufacturing Tacit Knowledge,” which aims to convert tacit knowledge-a key source of competitiveness in manufacturing-into data and leverage it through AI models. The project will be funded with a total budget of 48 billion won this year through an additional supplementary budget.

Tacit knowledge refers to the work routines, judgment criteria, and intuitive know-how acquired by skilled workers through years of experience. Due to its nature, which makes documentation difficult, it has traditionally been passed down between generations. However, as the manufacturing workforce ages and experienced workers are retiring at a faster rate, concerns are mounting over the potential loss of this expertise. The industrial sector has consistently called for systematic data collection of tacit knowledge and its application through AI.

In particular, there is a heightened sense of crisis in industries with high-risk, high-difficulty processes and acute labor shortages, as the risk of technological discontinuity grows. Experts also warn that if the manufacturing AI ecosystem is not sufficiently established and responses are delayed, the country could lose its competitive edge in the global market.

To address these issues, the Ministry plans to focus support on securing and refining unstructured data that captures the tacit knowledge of master craftsmen, and on developing AI models utilizing this data. The project will support consortia composed of manufacturing companies and AI companies, selecting a total of 30 projects in industries and processes with the most urgent needs and broadest impact. Each project will receive 1.6 billion won in funding.

The scope of support will go beyond simple research and development (R&D), encompassing dataset construction, AI model development, consulting, and equipment installation, offering comprehensive assistance. Companies and institutions demonstrating outstanding results will be given preferential consideration in future large-scale follow-up projects.

Applications will be accepted until May 11, and the project implementation period will run for approximately nine months, from June through February of the following year.

To enhance understanding of the project and encourage broader participation, the Ministry will also hold regional briefing sessions. Following an online briefing for the capital region, in-person sessions will be held on April 28 in the Yeongnam region (Changwon) and the Honam region (Gwangju), and on April 29 in the central region (Daejeon), where the project details and support procedures will be explained.

A Ministry official stated, “This project is an essential task to preserve and utilize tacit knowledge, which is at the core of manufacturing competitiveness,” adding, “We will push forward swiftly through close communication with industry, academia, and labor organizations.”

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