Integration of SMEs Ministry-Affiliated Institutions for Marketing and Startup Support: "We Will Communicate with Labor Unions"

[Financial News] The Ministry of SMEs and Startups will streamline similar and overlapping functions among its affiliated public institutions and strengthen coordination between them. In a representative move, it will merge the Korea Business Incubation Association into the Korea Institute of Startup & Entrepreneurship Development (KISED) to create a "Startup for Everyone" ecosystem in which anyone can pursue entrepreneurship.
According to the Ministry of SMEs and Startups on the 8th, it is pursuing functional reforms at the public institutions under its jurisdiction in line with the "Plan for Public Institution Functional Reform" announced jointly by the government on the 3rd.
First, the Korea Small and Medium Venture Business Distribution Center and Public Home Shopping will be merged to establish a tentatively named SME Marketing Promotion Corporation. The plan is to combine functions that had been dispersed—including promising product discovery, commercialization, and online and offline sales-channel support—to build a comprehensive marketing support system for SMEs that connects product discovery to sales and revenue.
In the startup sector, the Korea Business Incubation Association will be merged into KISED. The on-site incubation functions of 248 business incubators (BIs) nationwide will be linked with KISED's startup support programs, while cooperation with regional startup hubs, including 17 Creative Economy Innovation Centers, will also be strengthened. The goal is to support a "Startup for Everyone" ecosystem in which people can pursue entrepreneurship anywhere in the country.
The Korea Small Business Institute (KOSBI) will be transferred to the National Research Council for Economics, Humanities and Social Sciences under the Office for Government Policy Coordination. After the transfer, KOSBI will continue conducting policy research projects for the Ministry of SMEs and Startups. It will also work with research institutes under the council to strengthen policy research on SMEs and startups covering corporate ecosystems, finance, employment, and regional issues.
The Disabled Enterprise Business Center will be transferred to the Korea Employment Agency for Persons with Disabilities (KEAD) under the Ministry of Employment and Labor. The move will use KEAD's nationwide network to improve access to support for persons with disabilities and link services related to the management activities of enterprises owned by persons with disabilities with services related to the employment of persons with disabilities.
Facilities management functions will also be consolidated. The facilities-management subsidiaries of three affiliated institutions—Gibomate, Jungjinkong Partners, and Hanyuwon Partners—will be merged to establish a tentatively named SME Management Corporation.
At the same time, the Korea SMEs & Startups Registrar, the Korea Association of Industry-Academia-Research Cooperation, and the Women Enterprise Supporting Center will eliminate the requirements for designation as public institutions. This is intended to increase flexibility in their operations and strengthen cooperation with the field.
The Ministry of SMEs and Startups will communicate with relevant ministries, public institutions, and labor unions as it refines the functional reform plans for each institution. It also plans to review details such as staffing and organizational structures and pursue the necessary amendments to laws and regulations.
[email protected] Kim Hyun-cheol Reporter