KIU, selected as ‘Maker Space Business’ by Ministry of SMEs and Startups(MSS)

bankroll local people in creation, start-up, hobby with government expenditure of 2 billion won for 5 years

Kyungil University(President Chung, Hyun-Tae) was selected as a managing institution for construction and operation of Maker Space by Ministry of SMEs and Startups, and is going to support the spread of local maker culture and the makers.

Ministry of SMEs and Startups has been pushing ahead the Maker Space Business since last year, and has been operating the professional lab and amateur lap for the spread of local maker culture. The ministry is aiming at producing and selling a new product at the same time through making a space for creative activities where everyone can use a variety of digital manufacturing equipment such as 3D printers, laser cutters etc.

About 50 management agencies were selected nationwide, but only 5 maker spaces specialized in amateur lap were selected including Kyungil University. KIU played a pivotal role as an advance base of creative activity for prep entrepreneurs and local makers through Idea Factory Project for 3 years and Project of Leading University for Start-ups for 9 years. This selection is the result of the experience and knowhow.

KIU is going to provide students and local people with smart mobile device program such as drone, autonomous vehicle and a variety of specialized programs such as 3D printer, coding, DIY living product, smart food etc. In particular, KIU is going to play a leading role in planning commercialization like prototyping for prep entrepreneurs as well as the diffusion of maker space culture by acting as a bridge between professional labs and amateur laps.

This selection of KIU has another meaning in that KIU obtained cooperation from the local governments such as about 3 hundred million won financial support from Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, and will work with the local businesses like Inteck Inc., ALUX Co., Elvis Co., etc. and the local community like Daegu-Gyungbuk Bizcool Conference.

The Maker Space Business of KIU will support preparing to start a business and club activities, and also support the activities of hobby, experience, free time, creation. It is anticipated that The Maker Space Business of KIU will be positioned as a maker space which joins the local people by running parallel with the experience of drone pilotless aircraft, KIU Railway Academy, autonomous vehicle institute.

President Chung, Hyun-Tae said “we will support to make KIUM Maker Space a base of progress for creative activity of local people by sharing campus infrastructure with local people” and also added “this selection of KIU will contribute to improving quality of locals’ lives and vitalizing the local economy.”