NEWS[ChosunBiz] AI innovation propels South Korean SMEs towards global market prominence

[Link] https://biz.chosun.com/en/en-industry/2025/09/04/P4QNM7YKTRASFAYJLZXGVECVDA/

In this era of innovation driven by AI, we will focus our policy capabilities on supporting AI-based technological innovation and commercialization, as well as fostering an AI startup ecosystem, so that our small and medium-sized enterprises can become key players on the world stage. 

(Han Seong-suk, Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises and Startups) 

The '2025 Small and Medium Enterprises Technology and Management Innovation Expo' kicked off in Jeju on the 4th.

The Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises and Startups held the '2025 Small and Medium Enterprises Technology and Management Innovation Expo' on the 4th in conjunction with the 'APEC Small and Medium Enterprises Ministerial Meeting' taking place in Jeju.

Now in its 26th year, the Small and Medium Enterprises Technology and Management Innovation Expo is the largest event in Korea that showcases excellent technology and management innovation cases of domestic small and medium enterprises. Organized by the Innovative Business Association (Small and Medium Enterprises Technology Innovation Association) and the Main Business Association (Korea Management Innovation Small and Medium Enterprises Association), it will be held until the 5th at the International Convention Center (ICC) in Jeju and the Booyoung Hotel.

Minister Han Seong-suk of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups. /Courtesy of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups

This year, in connection with 'innovation-driven growth,' a key agenda of the 'APEC Small and Medium Enterprises Ministerial Meeting,' 23 AI-based innovative products from small and medium enterprises were exhibited and promoted under four concepts, including manufacturing and daily life.

Innovative products were selected after a demand survey targeting companies that recently achieved technological development results, and those that wished to participate were comprehensively reviewed for their technological and product innovation results, global expansion potential, and cooperation possibility with APEC member countries.

Innovative products utilizing AI technology, such as AI-based smart disaster prevention technology, sign language ticketing kiosks, urban smart farms, and walking rehabilitation assistive robots, captured the attention of APEC participants.

The Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises and Startups also operated a program to introduce the innovative technologies and products directly to APEC member countries, domestic and foreign investors, ensuring that the exhibited products could lead to global investments and market entries. Additionally, they provided AI-based multilingual exhibition interpretation services to participants, including the APEC delegation.

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The SMEs Technology and Management Innovation Fair' opens on the 4th at the Jeju International Convention Center (ICC). /Courtesy of the Innovative Business Association

At the opening ceremony held on the 4th, Kim Geun-ho, CEO of 'Juin Information Systems,' which developed a building integrated automation system for energy conservation, and Park Chan-hwa, CEO of 'KT,' the number one company in the domestic market share for mobile phone SIM trays, received the Silver Tower Industrial Medal. Han Il-han, CEO of 'H Energy,' which improved distributed generation systems in the new energy sector, was honored with the Bronze Tower Industrial Medal.

Minister Han Seong-suk noted, 'Recently, AI technology is leading innovations in our daily lives and across industries, and since it is a core technology necessary for the infinite growth of small and medium enterprises, we will actively support the adoption of AI by small and medium enterprises.'

Minister Han also stated, 'We will expand policies to support research and development (R&D) funding for innovative small and medium enterprises discovered and invested in by private venture capitalists and will newly promote technology commercialization support to ensure commercially viable R&D, thereby restructuring the small and medium enterprise R&D support system to back the innovative activities of small and medium enterprises.'

Jeong Gwang-cheon, chairman of the Innovative Business Association, said, 'This technology and management innovation expo has become an opportunity for small and medium enterprises, including innovative businesses, to showcase their potential for innovation and actual technical competitiveness both domestically and internationally, and we will spare no effort to support our corporations to gain recognition in the global market and grow to the next stage.'

Kim Myung-jin, chairman of the Main Business Association, remarked, 'This event is a chance to witness representative K-tech innovative technologies led by AI in one place, and I hope corporations can gain various insights through this event to apply in their management.' He added, 'The Main Business Association will take the lead in supporting our small and medium enterprises to create new values and opportunities.'