Ministry selects 10 industrial complex projects for AI, carbon-free transition, with W90.4b in support

The government has selected 10 industrial complex support projects at high-performing complexes across the country — including those in Cheongju, Chungju, Pohang, Masan, Changwon, Jeonju and Yeosu — to lead the transition to manufacturing AI (M.AX) and carbon neutrality. The initiative is aimed at driving the Lee Jae Myung administration's "five-hub, three-special-zone regional growth" strategy.

The five-hub, three-special-zone framework is the Lee administration's regional balanced-development policy, which divides the country into five broad metropolitan zones and three special autonomous zones to intensively foster strategic industries in each region.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced Friday that it had selected 10 projects comprising 76 tasks through this year's industrial complex support project competition. Total support amounts to 90.4 billion won ($59.9 million).

To expand M.AX adoption, AI transformation demonstration complexes will be built at the Pohang, Cheongju and Gumi industrial complexes, while smart logistics platform projects will proceed at the Masan and Chungju complexes.

The Changwon industrial complex was chosen as the site for a 5G private network infrastructure project to build advanced communications and data infrastructure. The Busan Myeongjinoksan industrial complex was selected for a 14 billion won edge AI data center pilot program. Both projects aim to accelerate AI transformation infrastructure across industrial complexes.

Smart energy platforms will also be built at the Masan, Asan Bugok and Chungju industrial complexes to push forward the transition to eco-friendly, carbon-free operations.

Fourteen companies across South Gyeongsang, North Chungcheong, Busan, Ulsan, South Chungcheong, North Jeolla, Daegu and North Gyeongsang provinces will take on the "FEMS+" project, which adds energy and greenhouse gas measurement pilot sites to existing factory energy management systems.

An energy self-sufficiency infrastructure project to establish an integrated energy management system will proceed at industrial complexes in Daejeon, Jeonju, Sacheon, Masan, Busan and Suncheon, alongside a digital-based resource circulation pilot at the Yeosu and Pohang complexes.

The Busan, Incheon and Wonju industrial complexes were selected for a culture-led industrial complex development project. For the industrial cluster competitiveness enhancement program, 41 consortiums tailored to local industry-academia-research conditions were chosen and will begin innovation R&D in the second half of the year.

The ministry said the selected projects would ensure that regional industrial complexes contributing to balanced national development receive stronger support, adding that it would spare no effort to help them grow into key hubs that invigorate local economies.