Inha, OECD Discuss SME AI Transition
▲ Participants in the Joint Workshop on the Digital and AI Transformation of SMEs pose for a commemorative photo.
The Small Business Economic Ecosystem Research Center at Inha University recently held a joint workshop titled "Digital and AI Transformation in SMEs" together with the OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities (OECD CFE) and the KDI School of Public Policy and Management.
The workshop was organized to strengthen research and policy collaboration on digital transformation and AI utilization among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and small business owners.
The workshop featured presentations and discussions on ▲AI adoption in SMEs ▲AI and digital transformation in the retail sector ▲international cooperation based on Korea's smart manufacturing policy experience.
The OECD CFE introduced different types of AI adoption among SMEs, policy support strategies, and the results of the 2026 D4SME Survey. Choi Hyoji, a research professor at the Small Business Economic Ecosystem Research Center currently serving as a visiting researcher at the OECD CFE, presented the current status of AI adoption among Korean companies and its policy implications based on an OECD survey of Korean businesses. Professor Lee Chang-geun of the KDI School of Public Policy and Management explained the gap between SMEs and large companies in the use of generative AI by analyzing data from a survey of Korean workers.
Professor Jeon Bo-gang, Director of the Small Business Economic Ecosystem Research Center, presented research analyzing how the growth of online consumption affects offline commercial districts and store performance using commercial district data from Seoul. The workshop also discussed ways to promote international cooperation that could support manufacturing transformation and strengthen SME capabilities in developing countries based on Korea's experience with its smart factory initiative.
Professor Jeon said, "This workshop provided a meaningful opportunity to connect international discussions on the digital and AI transformation of SMEs and small businesses with Korea's policy experience. We will continue to expand research on innovation ecosystems for small businesses and SMEs through collaboration with domestic and international organizations, including the OECD and the KDI School of Public Policy and Management."
Meanwhile, the Small Business Economic Ecosystem Research Center was selected in 2022 as a leading Convergence Research Center (CRC) under the Basic Research Program funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT. Led by Professor Jeon Bo-gang of the Department of Economics at Inha University, the center is conducting a seven-year research project with a total budget of KRW 10 billion.
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