SMEs ministry opens first public AI center for manufacturers in Gyeongnam

The SMEs ministry said Thursday it has begun full operations of the Gyeongnam Manufacturing AI Center, the region's first public facility dedicated to helping small manufacturers adopt artificial intelligence. The launch marks the start of support under the Regional-Led AI Great Transformation project.

Located at the Gyeongnam Changwon Industry-Academia Cooperation Foundation, the facility is equipped with 40 high-performance graphics processing units and 15 workstations. These resources allow small manufacturing companies to jointly access the computing power and development environments necessary for building and testing AI models. The center supports the development and verification of AI solutions for quality control and process optimization by linking on-site manufacturing demands with AI technologies.

To encourage immediate uptake, the ministry will provide free access to the infrastructure for local companies through the end of this year. Starting in 2027, the center plans to charge usage fees set below private market rates, with a goal of supporting the AI transformation of up to 300 manufacturers annually. This aims to spread verified AI applications across the local industrial base through a regional AI governance model involving manufacturers, AI firms, and innovation institutions.

Hwang Young-ho, the ministry's director for technology innovation policy, attended the opening ceremony along with officials from Gyeongnam Province and partner organizations. About 100 participants gathered to review operational plans and discuss strategies for expanding successful AI pilot cases.

"We hope the Gyeongnam Manufacturing AI Data Center will serve as a solid springboard for small manufacturers who have hesitated to introduce AI due to cost concerns," Hwang said. He added that the ministry remains committed to supporting the ecosystem by providing verification opportunities and commercialization assistance linked to high-performance infrastructure.