The Korea Federation of SMEs announced that it will host the 'Smart Biz Expo 2026' from October 13 to 16 at COEX in Gangnam, Seoul, in collaboration with the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and Samsung Electronics.
The 'Smart Biz Expo' is a cooperative event aimed at showcasing excellent products and technologies from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that have innovated their manufacturing processes through smart factory implementation. Since 2018, the Korea Federation of SMEs, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, and Samsung Electronics have supported the manufacturing innovation of over 2,700 SMEs with approximately 179.3 billion won. This year, 53 companies are participating, including 37 in consumer goods, industrial products, machinery, components, and home appliances, six in a special AI section, and ten in a cooperative market.
Notably, the 'AI Zone' in the special AI section features AI solutions and process models applied in actual manufacturing settings. SMEs participating in the AI section, such as TurboLink, Prinpia, Autos, Sunil Safe, and Opticom, have introduced manufacturing AI technologies and results applied in their production sites, receiving support for 75% of their project costs (up to 300 million won) through the cooperative smart factory 'AI Track.'
Last year, the 'Smart Biz Expo 2025' featured the announcement of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups' 'AI-driven Smart Manufacturing Innovation 3.0' policy and discussions on the future direction of manufacturing innovation under the theme 'Wings of Manufacturing Innovation: AI Smart Factories.'
Oh Gi-woong, the executive vice president of the Korea Federation of SMEs, stated, 'In the next ten years, AI will be a major variable in polarization. We must actively support the adoption of AI and digital transformation in SMEs now to minimize the deepening of polarization in the future.'
* This article has been translated by AI.
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