Han Seong-sook, the Minister of SMEs and Startups, proposed a "collaborative manufacturing innovation model" focused on industry and process to promote the digital transformation of the food industry.
Speaking at the launch ceremony of the "K-Food Smart Manufacturing Alliance" on June 10 at COEX D Hall in Seoul, she stated, "The global food market is rapidly becoming more intelligent in production, quality, hygiene, and supply chain management, driven by AI and data."
Minister Han pointed out that only about 16% of food manufacturing companies currently receive support for smart factories, with the adoption rate of AI at just 0.9%, significantly lower than other major manufacturing sectors.
"The AI transformation in manufacturing is not an option but a core task for the sustainable growth of K-Food," she emphasized, adding that relying solely on individual company support has clear limitations in spreading digital transformation across the food industry.
She further noted, "The Ministry of SMEs and Startups aims to overcome these limitations by shifting from individual company support to a collaborative manufacturing innovation model that fosters growth among companies based on industry and process. We will focus on alleviating the burdens of small food companies in building manufacturing data and securing specialized personnel, creating an environment where AI can be easily utilized on-site."
The alliance serves as a public-private cooperation platform involving large and small food manufacturers, small businesses specializing in smart manufacturing technology, and professional institutions to enhance the global competitiveness of K-Food. The launch event included presentations from companies and a declaration of the "K-Food Smart Manufacturing Alliance Vision."
Attendees, including Minister Han, pledged through a declaration to strengthen global competitiveness through AI transformation in K-Food manufacturing, promote data and AI-based manufacturing innovation, expand cooperation among manufacturing companies, technology firms, and support organizations, focus on practical demonstrations and results, and lead the AI transformation across South Korea's manufacturing sector.
As a key ministry driving K-Food manufacturing innovation, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups will promote the dissemination of AI-based smart manufacturing models, establish export-oriented smart factories, and create a foundation for standardizing and utilizing manufacturing data. Additionally, it will support the spread of manufacturing AI ecosystems among small food manufacturing companies.
Minister Han expressed her hope that starting with K-Food, the AI transformation model will expand across the manufacturing sector, including beauty and fashion, and that the alliance will establish itself as a new growth model for South Korea's food industry.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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