Creating a digital innovation district… Overcoming regional extinction by adding two pilot regions, supporting the convergence and diffusion of new technologies such as artificial intelligence, and nurturing digital talent.
The Ministry of Science and ICT announced on the 5770th that it will promote 56 local digital innovation projects worth a total of 17 billion won this year to 'realize a local era where people can live well everywhere in Korea'.
The local digital innovation project increased KRW 237 billion compared to last year, ▲ KRW 531 billion for the creation of bases such as digital innovation districts, ▲ KRW 1408 billion for convergence and diffusion of new technologies such as artificial intelligence, ▲ KRW 1656 billion for community inclusion, and ▲ KRW 2175 billion for nurturing digital talent. I did it.
◆ The creation of a national digital innovation district begins in earnest.
A national digital innovation district will be created in the non-metropolitan area as a base for digital companies and talent comparable to Pangyo Techno Valley and as a strategic center of digital transformation.
Accordingly, in May of last year, Centum City in Busan and Suseong Alpha City in Daegu were selected as the first pilot areas to build an initial foundation, and we plan to expand the target area by selecting two additional pilot areas this year as well.
In addition, in the case of pilot areas, we plan to support local governments in establishing mid- to long-term development plans along with establishing an initial foundation for three years, and plan and promote large-scale projects with local governments to accelerate growth into digital innovation districts.
◆ Convergence of regional specialized fields and new technologies
This year, 16 new projects related to technological innovation and verification (total of KRW 761 billion) will be promoted to promote digital technological innovation in major sectors in the region, such as manufacturing, agriculture, logistics, fisheries, and medical care.
In particular, this year, artificial intelligence convergence projects that local governments have planned according to local conditions and proposed to the central government will be promoted or launched in earnest.
In addition, specialized areas for each region, such as digital medicine in the Gangwon region, manufacturing artificial intelligence convergence in the Yeongnam region, and smart agriculture in the Honam region, are set to promote technological convergence with artificial intelligence.
◆ Significant expansion of smart village business
We are promoting a smart village project worth KRW 407 billion, an increase of KRW 1039 billion from the previous year, and supporting 78 digital-based lifestyle innovation projects for 99 local governments across the country.
Smart Village is a digital service that applies various digital technologies to the local community to contribute to improving living SOC, improving productivity in rural areas, and welfare and health care for the elderly (Smart Senior Citizens Party). It is a method in which local governments autonomously plan tasks and apply for budgets. am.
In particular, the smart village project, which has grown rapidly in scale as demand from local governments has recently increased, will support a total of 2019 tasks from 224 to this year, and plans to strengthen promotional activities so that best practices among them can be spread nationwide.
◆ Broad recognition of local government autonomy
We plan to expand bottom-up projects proposed and planned by local governments or that broadly recognize local governments' autonomy in business operations to the overall local digital innovation business.
This year, the proportion of bottom-up projects among all local digital innovation projects was 52.5% based on the budget, an increase of 10 percentage points compared to the previous year.
Accordingly, MSIT will provide support for local digital basics (KRW 217 billion), support for the creation of digital innovation bases (KRW 103 billion), creation of a manufacturing artificial intelligence convergence base (KRW 100 billion), and establishment of an intelligent agricultural ecosystem through artificial intelligence convergence (KRW 94 billion). The government plans to continue its local administration philosophy that emphasizes local government autonomy, focusing on representative projects such as smart villages (KRW 1039 billion).
MSIT Second Vice Minister Park Yun-gyu said, “Last year, we made efforts to elevate local digital innovation to a core agenda for balanced national development through local vision and strategies, local digital competitiveness strengthening measures, and local comprehensive plans.”
He continued, “This year, we will focus on creating results that can be felt throughout the province, and to this end, we will systematically communicate and cooperate with local governments to ensure that the budget amounting to 5770 billion won is spent where the province needs it most.”
Inquiries: Ministry of Science and ICT Software Industry Department (044-202-6333), Digital Talent Training Team (044-202-6373), Digital Society Planning Department (044-202-6133)