Science & Tech · AI · 6 hrs ago
South Korea to invest over 5 trillion won in AI for small manufacturers
South Korea’s Small and Medium Business Ministry has announced a plan to invest more than 5 trillion won in small manufacturers by 2030.
The aim is to raise the share of small manufacturing firms using AI from 1% to 10%, and increase the number of AI-using firms from 600 to 6,000.
The plan links digital upgrades, AI and robotics in what the government calls its 3X strategy.
Firms will get support suited to their readiness, from collecting production data to using AI to improve processes and adding manufacturing robots.
The government plans to supply robots to about 1,000 companies and test AI and robotics in labor-intensive or dangerous work.
It also plans to build integrated smart robot factories and support 500 specialist manufacturing technology firms by 2030.
The government says it will develop the strategy further and provide training and other support so more small manufacturers can adopt the technology.
South Korea plans to invest more than 5 trillion won in smart manufacturing innovation for small and medium-sized manufacturers by 2030.
The government aims to raise the share of these firms using AI from 1% to 10%.
Its “3X strategy” links digital transformation, AI transformation and robot transformation.
The plan targets 6,000 AI-using manufacturers and 30,000 digitally transformed firms by 2030.
The government also plans to supply manufacturing robots to about 1,000 companies and develop 500 smart manufacturing technology firms.
- Who
- South Korea’s Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced the plan for small and medium-sized manufacturers.
- What
- The government will invest more than 5 trillion won in smart manufacturing innovation by 2030. It aims to expand the use of AI, digital technologies and robots.
- When
- The strategy was announced on October 29, 2026. The targets are for 2030.
- Where
- The announcement was made at a national policy coordination meeting in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province.
- Why
- The government aims to modernize manufacturers’ production methods and raise their technological capabilities.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced the strategy at a national policy coordination meeting in Cheonan.
The government plans to invest more than 5 trillion won and raise AI adoption among small and medium-sized manufacturers from 1% to 10%.
- Investment
- More than 5 trillion won by 2030
- AI adoption rate
- Target rises from 1% to 10%
- AI-using firms
- Target rises from 600 to 6,000 by 2030
- Digitally transformed firms
- Target rises from 18,000 to 30,000 by 2030
- Manufacturing robots
- Planned supply to about 1,000 firms by 2030
- Smart manufacturing firms
- Target of 500 by 2030
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What people are saying
In the era of AI transformation, manufacturing AI innovation by small and medium-sized enterprises, the backbone of our economy and industry, is key to South Korea’s rise as a leading physical AI nation.
We will actively support small and medium-sized enterprises in innovating their production methods and enhancing their technological capabilities by linking and integrating data, AI and robot transformation.