Seoul: The government has announced a plan to allocate 65 billion won (approximately US$45 million) this year to support research and development (R and D) projects of medium-sized enterprises, with a particular focus on those centered around artificial intelligence (AI) in manufacturing.

According to Lao News Agency, this budget represents a 20 percent increase from the previous year's allocation of 54.8 billion won for similar projects. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources highlighted that this increase underscores the government's commitment to advancing AI transformation within the manufacturing sector. This initiative aligns with the government's key policy agenda aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of local companies in the AI era.

The ministry also noted that this year's budget would be directed towards R and D projects conducted by medium-sized companies located outside the greater Seoul area. This strategic move is intended to promote balanced regional growth, ensuring that advancements in AI manufacturing are not confined to a single geographic area but are distributed across the country.