The Korea SMEs and Startups Agency announced the selection of 13 industry-specialized AI contract departments at 10 universities on June 21. This initiative aims to cultivate on-site artificial intelligence (AI) specialists, addressing a critical shortage in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across various sectors. The new departments will develop curricula integrating AI into fields such as manufacturing, biotechnology, materials and components, and aerospace and defense, preparing graduates to solve practical problems.
This program marks the first time such an initiative has been devised to assist SMEs struggling with AI adoption and utilization. Many small and medium-sized businesses face difficulties due to a lack of specialized personnel and limitations in reskilling existing workers. The contract departments are designed to produce practice-oriented talent capable of implementing AI solutions directly within these companies.
The Agency issued a call for participating universities on March 30. A rigorous selection process followed, involving document review, on-site inspections, and evaluation by a panel of experts. This process led to the final selection of 10 universities under a specialized track and three under a general track.
Under the specialized track, Kyungnam University (Doctoral), Gyeongsang National University (Master’s), Daegu University (Doctoral), Dongseo University (Master’s), Myongji University (Master’s), Ajou University (Master’s), Inha University (Master’s), Changshin University (Master’s), Cheongju University (Master’s), and Korea Polytechnic University (Master’s) were selected. The general track includes Konkuk University Global Campus (Bachelor’s), Korea Maritime and Ocean University (Bachelor’s), and Chungbuk National University (Master’s).
The Korea SMEs and Startups Agency will provide support for curriculum preparation and student recruitment for these selected departments. This assistance is intended to ensure that full-fledged degree programs can begin operating effectively next year. The support aims to establish a strong foundation for the new educational offerings.
Education linked to university-industry collaboration projects is also planned. This approach will allow SME employees to apply AI technologies to solve real work tasks, fostering a direct connection between academic learning and practical industry needs. The initiative seeks to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and on-site application.
Kang Seok-jin, Chairman of the Agency, stated that the industry-specialized AI contract department will become a talent development platform. He added that it will support the autonomous AI transformation (AX) of SMEs, moving beyond simple technical training. The program emphasizes field-centered education through university and company collaboration to actively support AI use by SMEs.
The long-term impact of these new departments on the AI capabilities of Korean SMEs remains to be seen. Future evaluations will likely focus on the practical application of AI by graduates and the overall increase in AI adoption rates within the SME sector. The success of this initiative could influence further expansion of similar programs.