Jeonnam-Gwangju Manufacturing Startup Innovation Hub 'INNO+ STA·G' Opens

[Financial News Jeonnam-Gwangju = Reporter Hwang Tae-jong] 'INNO+ STA·G,' designed to support the growth of manufacturing startups in the Jeonnam-Gwangju region and establish a collaborative system for Manufacturing AX (AI transformation), has officially begun operations.
According to Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City (Gwangju Metropolitan City) on the 15th, an opening ceremony for 'INNO+ STA·G' was held that day at the Bonchon Industrial Complex in Buk-gu. Approximately 100 people involved in manufacturing startups attended, including Vice Mayor for Safety and Public Welfare Ko Gwang-wan, along with representatives from startups, large and medium-sized enterprises, investment firms, universities, research institutes, and financial institutions.
Gwangju Metropolitan City explained that 'INNO+' symbolizes manufacturing innovation by conveying the meaning of adding innovation, while 'STA·G' refers to a stage where startups can realize their dreams of growth.
Built with a total project cost of 42.7 billion won, 'INNO+ STA·G' is a seven-story facility with a total floor area of 14,416.92 square meters. As a specialized support facility for manufacturing startups, it is equipped with 84 corporate occupancy spaces, an investor relations (IR) room, a meetup zone, and seminar rooms to support startups' product development, commercialization, and investment attraction.
With 'INNO+ STA·G' at the center, Gwangju Metropolitan City plans to connect the prototype production, testing, and demonstration infrastructure of local innovation institutions to provide manufacturing startups with step-by-step support, from moving in and product development to commercialization, investment attraction, and subsequent growth.
Following the opening of 'Stage (Bitgoeul Startup Station)' near Gwangju Station last March, Gwangju Metropolitan City opened 'INNO+ STA·G' that day as an innovation hub for manufacturing startups, enabling it to further accelerate its startup support efforts.
Ko Gwang-wan, Vice Mayor for Safety and Public Welfare, emphasized, "'INNO+ STA·G' is a stage for growth where manufacturing startups with outstanding technologies and ideas can take a leap forward through product commercialization, demonstration, and investment attraction," adding, "We will actively support manufacturing startups so that they can take root and grow in the region by closely connecting Gwangju Metropolitan City's research and production infrastructure with the private sector's professional capabilities."
Meanwhile, at the opening ceremony that day, Gwangju Metropolitan City, Korea Electronics Technology Institute (KETI), Korea Institute of Industrial Technology (KITECH), the Artificial Intelligence Industry Convergence Business Group, Gwangju Center for Creative Economy Innovation, Jeonnam Center for Creative Economy Innovation, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Chonnam National University (CNU), Chosun University, Gwangju Technopark, Korea Technology Finance Corporation (KOTEC), and Korea Credit Guarantee Fund (KODIT) signed a memorandum of understanding to create a manufacturing innovation ecosystem.
Under the agreement, the participating organizations agreed to link their respective infrastructure—including technology, personnel, equipment, and funding—and work together to discover and nurture outstanding manufacturing startups; produce prototypes and demonstrate technologies; connect commercialization with investment; provide financial and guarantee support; and support entry into industrial complexes and subsequent growth.

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