The government is moving to support mid-sized companies in securing independent technologies and driving artificial intelligence (AI) transformation to strengthen their capabilities.

Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jeong-kwan held a meeting with mid-sized business leaders today (1st) at Hana Micron, a semiconductor post-processing specialist located in Asan, South Chungcheong Province, and announced the 3rd Basic Plan for Promoting the Growth of Mid-Sized Enterprises (2026–2030) containing these measures.

Through two previous basic plans, the government established the basic direction and strategies for mid-sized enterprise policy. This new plan presents four major strategies: enhancing the core competencies of mid-sized enterprises, strengthening the growth ladder, expanding regional foundations through the "five poles and three specials" framework, and responding to future paradigms.

First, the government will nurture "anchor mid-sized enterprises" equipped with independent technological prowess and intellectual property (IP).

To this end, it will pursue the "Decacore Project," in which mid-sized companies collaborate with universities and research institutes to secure 10 super-gap system technologies.

A total of 1 trillion won will be injected from 2027 through 2035.

The government plans to support the entire process from technology development—covering core materials, parts, equipment, processes, and finished products that make up systems—to commercialization and overseas expansion, including patents, standards, marketing channels, and certifications.

The government will also strengthen the growth ladder by linking research and development (R&D), verification, production, and export support across each growth stage: potential mid-sized companies, starting mid-sized companies, and leading mid-sized companies.

It plans to overhaul relevant laws and systems to resolve the structural problem where support decreases and regulations increase as companies grow.

Measures will be prepared to ease growing pains, such as introducing a "graduation grace period" that allows companies to maintain their mid-sized enterprise status for the first five years even if they grow and meet the criteria for large conglomerates.

In addition, the government will expand regional-based mid-sized enterprises.

Linked with the five poles and three specials growth engine project, it decided to strengthen investment incentives for key regional mid-sized companies while providing policy financing such as the National Growth Fund alongside labor and infrastructure support.

It will also expand win-win R&D involving regional mid-sized and small-and-medium enterprises (SMEs), universities, and research institutes.

Response to industrial paradigms such as AI and carbon neutrality will also be reinforced.

The government will launch full-scale implementation of Manufacturing AI Transformation (M.AX) for mid-sized enterprises, discovering and spreading AI models to be utilized in industrial sites such as materials and parts, engineering, and energy.

In particular, it decided to support AI transformation for approximately 350 companies, representing half of the 687 manufacturing upstream mid-sized firms, by 2030.

Along with eco-friendly facility investments by mid-sized companies in carbon-heavy sectors such as steel and chemicals, the government will also support safety transformation (SX) at manufacturing sites.

"Mid-sized companies are the backbone of our economy and the 'middle power' connecting the value chains of large corporations and SMEs," Minister Kim said. "Because corporate growth is the growth of the national economy itself, the government will lay a growth ladder so that mid-sized companies can grow into anchor enterprises equipped with independent technological prowess."

Prior to today's meeting, Minister Kim presented selection certificates to 10 companies newly chosen as 2026 World Class Plus enterprises.

The World Class Plus project supports technology development and other areas to help promising mid-sized companies grow into global enterprises. Ten companies, including Wonik Holdings, Naturalway, Humedix, and Saehan Industry, were newly selected across fields such as semiconductors, displays, biotechnology, and future vehicles.

(Photo: Yonhap News)