Busan-Jinhae FEZ Authority to Build Manufacturing AI Support System
The Busan-Jinhae Free Economic Zone Authority (BJFEZ) has announced its intention to establish a system to support the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in the region's key industries. To this end, the '3rd BJFEZ Business Site Forum' was held on the 25th at the Korea Maritime and Ocean University Industry-Academia Convergence Campus. Approximately 100 officials from resident companies and related institutions attended the forum, where discussions focused on strategies to overcome industry challenges in shipbuilding components, machinery, and auto parts through AI adoption. The BJFEZ Commissioner identified AI-driven industrial transformation as a critical factor for future competitiveness.
Presenters from Busan and Gyeongnam Technoparks proposed strategies centered on practical, on-site demonstrations. Busan Technopark showcased cases of anomaly detection and predictive maintenance for facilities within the Myeongji-Noksan Eco-Marine Materials, Parts, and Equipment Specialized Complex. Gyeongnam Technopark detailed customized AI application examples for automotive and shipbuilding processes, alongside proposals for data building and specialized workforce development for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Attending business representatives agreed that AI adoption has become a pivotal factor in global competitiveness, extending beyond simple productivity gains. During the Q&A session, SMEs voiced concerns regarding the initial financial burden and the difficulty in recruiting specialized personnel for AI implementation, calling for expanded practical demonstration support programs. Lee Soo-tae, chairman of the Resident Companies Association, emphasized that manufacturing AI is a core strategy for corporate competitiveness and stressed the importance of tangible, field-oriented support.
BJFEZ Commissioner Park Sung-ho stated that the authority would incorporate the feedback gathered at the forum into its policies and commit to building a practical support framework for the transition to manufacturing AI. Kim Jeong-hwan, president of Gyeongnam Technopark, pledged to enhance support for manufacturing innovation through physical AI to boost regional industrial competitiveness.