JEONNAM-GWANGJU — Small and mid-sized ventures in the Jeonnam-Gwangju region gathered to discuss how to respond to an industrial shift driven by the convergence of artificial intelligence and mobility.
The Gwangju-Jeonnam Venture Business Association said on the 15th that it had hosted the 2026 Jeonnam-Gwangju Innovation Venture Forum the previous day at the Holiday Inn Gwangju, together with the Gwangju-Jeonnam Women's Venture Association and the Gwangju Institute for Industry-Academy Convergence. The forum was held under the theme of growth strategies for small and mid-sized ventures in Jeonnam-Gwangju, an AI mobility national pilot city. It ran alongside the third Leaders Forum of the 2026 Gwangju specialized cluster for autonomous vehicle parts.
About 90 officials from related agencies and business groups attended, including Kim Ma-seong, a director at the Gwangju-Jeonnam Regional Office of Small and Medium Business Administration; Kim Young-sam, head of the Gwangju-Jeonnam chapter of the Mainbiz Association; Lee Do-yeol, head of the Gwangju-Jeonnam-Jeju regional headquarters of the Korea Small Enterprise and Market Service (Semas); Shin Hyun-gu, chief executive of the Gwangju Economic Promotion Agency; and Yoo Seung-hyuk, a team leader at the Gwangju Institute for Industry-Academy Convergence.
The keynote lecture was given by Noh Hee-wook, who leads the innovation strategy task force at the Gwangju Future Mobility Promotion Agency. Noh spoke on how Jeonnam-Gwangju's AIMO CITY project could open opportunities for smaller companies, outlining shifts in the future mobility industry and response strategies for local firms.
Noh said the auto industry is changing rapidly around electrification, artificial intelligence, software-defined vehicles and a reshaping of supply chains. He added that the AIMO CITY project could widen participation opportunities for local small and venture businesses.
To turn large-scale infrastructure into actual growth, Noh said, smaller companies must close gaps in information, funding, workforce and market access. He proposed a one-stop window for the transition to future vehicles, vouchers opening access to data and GPUs, a quota system for participation in pilot projects, links to public procurement, and connections to transition investment. For cooperation with the venture sector, he suggested matching demand for pilot testing, joint investor relations events, and local pilot programs and relocation to regional hubs.
The industrial technology protection investigation team of the Jeonnam Provincial Police Agency then explained rules on intellectual property and trade secret protection for smaller ventures. The presentation covered the requirements for a trade secret under the Unfair Competition Prevention Act: that the information is not publicly known, holds economic value and is managed as confidential. Cases of technology leaks through former employees, partner companies and in-house staff were also discussed, along with ways to respond.
Kim Joon-rae, a managing director at E-Generdo, introduced TogetherWell, a free benefits platform for employees of smaller companies. The service offers discounts on KTX and SRT trains, comprehensive health screenings, resort facilities and traditional-market gift certificates (Onnuri) at no setup cost. It was presented as a mutual-growth benefits model that can be linked to support for sales channels for local small business owners.
"For the regional venture industry to move beyond crisis and make a leap forward, innovation and cooperation matter," said Ko Su-kyung, head of the Gwangju-Jeonnam Women's Venture Association. "The two associations will work together to build a sustainable venture ecosystem."
Kim Hyun-soo, head of the Gwangju-Jeonnam Venture Business Association, said the launch of Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City and the pursuit of the AI mobility national pilot city project represent a major opportunity for local small and venture businesses. "This forum helped companies set growth strategies and strengthen their networks," he said.
The organizers said they would continue to run programs to help local small and venture businesses adapt to the AI and mobility transition and to invigorate the venture ecosystem.