Recruitment for Additional Distribution of Smart Store Technology for Small Business Owners

[Financial News] The Small Business Market Promotion Corporation is recruiting additional participants for the 'Smart Store Technology Distribution Project' to support the digital transformation (DX) of small business owners.
The corporation announced on the 11th that it will expand the Smart Store Technology Distribution Project using the second supplementary budget for 2025. 
The Smart Store Technology Distribution Project is a project that distributes smart technologies such as barrier-free kiosks, serving robots, and digital signage to stores to improve operational efficiency and customer service quality. Even during the first recruitment in May this year, demand was steady due to the effects of reducing labor costs and improving customer response efficiency.
The support method can be chosen from △General type (up to 5 million won) △Rental type (3.5 million won per year) △Service type software (SaaS) type (300,000 won per year). The self-pay ratio is 30-50%, and the applicant bears the 10% value-added tax. Simplified taxpayers, one-person businesses, and disabled enterprises have the national subsidy ratio expanded to 80%, reducing the self-pay to 20%.
The support targets are small business owners according to Article 2 of the 'Small Business Basic Act', and the business must be operating normally as of the application date. Selected small business owners must subscribe to a payment guarantee insurance for the support amount and maintain and manage the technology for a mandatory use period of 2 years. If fraudulent acts are detected, sanctions such as recovery of the support fund and criminal penalties will follow.
Applications can be made through the Smart Store website, and detailed information can be confirmed at the dedicated call center. Online applications are accepted until September 4.
Park Seong-hyo, director of the corporation, said, “This additional recruitment has provided more small business owners with the opportunity to adopt smart technology,” and “I hope it will serve as a foundation to prepare for digital transformation.”

jimnn@fnnews.com Shin Ji-min Reporter