AI smart factories and specialist firms to be nurtured
Deep tech AI fund and GPU procurement in the works
Policy presented to 20 APEC member economies
South Korea's Ministry of SMEs and Startups presented the country's AI policies for small and medium-sized enterprises and venture companies at an APEC ministerial meeting on SMEs.
The ministry said Friday that Mok Seung-hwan, director general for startup and venture innovation, attended the 32nd APEC Small and Medium Enterprises Ministerial Meeting held Friday (local time) in Guangzhou, China, and shared South Korea's SME and venture AI policies with 20 member economies.
The APEC SME ministerial meeting brings together ministers responsible for small businesses from 21 Asia-Pacific economies to discuss cooperation and key issues. Last year's gathering was held in Jeju; this year's moved to Guangzhou.
This year's meeting centered on the theme "Innovation Drives Development, Cooperation Achieves Prosperity," with discussions focused on three priorities: science and technology innovation, strengthening digital and intelligent capabilities, and inclusive development.
During the session on digital and intelligent capabilities, Mok presented South Korea's SME and venture AI policies, which aim to make the country one of the world's top three AI powers.
The ministry outlined four broad policy areas. The first focuses on the AI transformation of manufacturing — spreading AI-based smart factories and nurturing specialist firms in AI solution automation.
The second targets AI transformation at the regional and small-business level, supporting a broad AI shift across regions while expanding AI education for small business owners.
To support AI startup growth, the ministry plans to establish a deep tech AI fund and secure GPUs dedicated to small and medium-sized enterprises — measures designed to improve SMEs' access to AI.
Alongside this, the ministry will build an integrated AI platform for SMEs and open public data to drive broader AI adoption across the sector.
The presentation introduced South Korea's ongoing SME AI transformation policies to APEC member economies and laid the groundwork for future policy cooperation. The core of the strategy is expanding AI transformation beyond manufacturing to cover regions, small businesses and startups, while simultaneously pursuing infrastructure, funding and data support.
"This APEC SME ministerial meeting was a meaningful opportunity to discuss key issues facing small businesses and to introduce South Korea's SME and venture AI policies," Mok said. "We plan to continue deepening the exchanges and discussions from this meeting and to pursue avenues for mutual cooperation."
boo@heraldcorp.com
