The Rural Development Administration is recruiting companies to build smart factories...providing support up to 250 million.

(Naju=Yonhap News) Reporter Areum Jang = The Korea Rural Economic Corporation announced on the 9th that it is recruiting companies for the 'Ministerial Collaboration Type Smart Factory Establishment Support Project' targeting small and medium-sized agricultural machinery export companies. This project aims to assist in the establishment of smart (intelligent) factories suitable for agricultural manufacturing sites, leading domestic companies' manufacturing innovation and strengthening global competitiveness. It is a collaboration between the Ministry of SMEs and Startups' 'Smart Factory Establishment Support Project' and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs' 'Agricultural Export Activation Project'. The support target is manufacturing companies in the agricultural sector that produce agricultural machinery, fertilizers, pesticides, feed, veterinary pharmaceuticals, seeds, and facility materials. Applications are available online through the Smart Factory Business Management System (https://www.smart-factory.kr) until April 9, with plans to select around 10 companies. Selected companies will receive support for the introduction of smart factory solutions for product design and production process improvement, along with the construction costs of associated automation equipment, controllers, sensors, etc. Support is available up to two times within a total of 250 million won, with a maximum of 200 million won per round (support ratio of 50%). The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Corporation will additionally support participating companies with costs for overseas exhibition participation, overseas buyer invitation export consultations, overseas certification acquisition, and market testing (sample sales).