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KIST Launches “K-Club” to support SMEs (Mar 8, 2013)
- Date : 2013-10-28
- Views : 5732
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![KIST Launches “K-Club” to support SMEs](http://kist.re.kr/Data/editor/lubjMwAF.jpg)
KIST joined the Korea Industrial Technology Association (KOITA) and the Korea Trade Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) in launching the K-Club, a program designed to support promising small and medium enterprises (SMEs) by sharing KIST’s accumulated expertise involving both manpower and technology. Member SMEs of the K-Club receive intensive consultation to help them grow into successful medium- and large-scale companies.
This first year, a total of 31 SMEs became members of the K-Club. KIST plans to select 10-20 SMEs each subsequent year after a thorough review process, which wil include evaluation of applications and onsite visits. Candidates will be evaluated based on the quality of their company’s technology, its marketing potential, previous patents, and current financial status.
![KIST Launches “K-Club” to support SMEs](http://kist.re.kr/Data/editor/MPutoweo.jpg)
KIST plans to strengthen all parts of the program, including technology commercialization, marketing, management, financial consultation, research staff support, and inter-industry networking, by providing experts who will work closely with member SMEs. “The launching of the K-Club not only complies with the policies of the new administration on vitalizing a creative economy, but it will also become an exemplary case for supporting SMEs by government-sponsored research institutes,” said KIST President Kil Choo Moon.