Ansan City has been ultimately selected for the leading project of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy's '2025 Root Industry Specialized Cluster Support Project.' This designation is expected to enable Ansan to leap forward as a hub for the root industries, which form a strong foundation for Korean manufacturing and drive innovation.
Importance of Root Industries and Ansan City's Selection Background
Root industries refer to sectors that operate using six core process technologies: casting, molding, plastic working, welding, heat treatment, and surface treatment. These are essential foundational technologies for the final product manufacturing of other industries. Valued as the backbone of manufacturing and a key industry driving innovation, root industries create high added value based on skilled techniques and know-how. The importance of fostering root industries to strengthen manufacturing competitiveness is emphasized worldwide, and their role is particularly increasing in the modern industrial environment, which demands highly advanced technology and precision.
With this selection for the leading project, Ansan City has laid a stepping stone for the sustainable growth and strengthened competitiveness of its root industries. In particular, the Ansan Banwol Industrial Complex has a long history and is a region where textile root industry companies, including dyeing and processing, are concentrated. The selection of this specialized cluster is seen as a result of high praise for these regional characteristics and the potential for root industry development.
Project Overview and Key Contents
The '2025 Root Industry Specialized Cluster Support Project' is a large-scale project that will invest a total of 4.8 billion won (2.4 billion won from national funds, 2.4 billion won from provincial, city, and private funds) over three years, starting this year. For the successful promotion of the project, the Banwol Fashion Color Business Cooperative (hereinafter referred to as 'Banwol Cooperative') has been selected as the lead institution responsible for establishing shared facilities, and it will pursue joint innovation activities with the Korea Textile Material Research Institute. The Korea Textile Material Research Institute, a specialized research institution leading technology development and research related to the textile industry, is expected to play a key role in advancing root technologies and supporting companies in this project.
The detailed project contents are as follows:
Establishment of shared facilities for dyeing and processing root companies within the specialized cluster: This involves improving aging facilities and introducing state-of-the-art equipment to enhance the production efficiency of companies and strengthen their capabilities for new product development and production. In particular, the replacement of aging communal wastewater treatment facilities within the Banwol Dyeing Complex is regarded as essential infrastructure expansion for environmental improvement and the sustainable growth of companies. This will contribute to proactively responding to strengthening environmental regulations and establishing eco-friendly production systems.
Process and technology innovation activities: Support will be provided for improving the production process efficiency of root companies and for research and development activities aimed at developing high-value-added technologies. Support for prototype production will help companies realize their ideas into actual products, thereby accelerating technological innovation. In addition, support for carbon-neutral collaborative activities will encourage the transition to environmentally friendly production systems and foster root companies that practice ESG management. This will play an important role in enhancing the global competitiveness of Korea's root industries in line with the worldwide trend of carbon neutrality.
Operation of specialized education and training programs for workforce development: This involves fostering professional manpower needed in the root industry field and providing customized educational programs to strengthen the capabilities of existing personnel. Related education will be strengthened to actively respond to changes in the global trade environment and tightening environmental regulations, and ways to enhance textile export competitiveness will be sought. Skilled personnel are a core asset of the root industries, and strengthening their expertise directly leads to technological innovation and productivity improvement.
Expected Effects and Future Outlook
Ansan City Mayor Lee Min-geun emphasized that the selection of this project "will serve as an opportunity for the textile fashion industry, which is struggling with global economic slowdowns and high exchange rates, to seek development." Through this project, Ansan City's root industries are expected to experience the following positive changes:
Strengthening corporate competitiveness: By establishing shared facilities, improving processes, and supporting technological innovation, the project will enhance the production efficiency and technological competitiveness of individual companies. This can lead to increased sales and market share for companies.
Revitalization of the local economy and job creation: The growth of root industries contributes to the revitalization of the local economy and can induce the growth of related industries and the creation of new jobs. In particular, there is a high possibility of creating high-quality jobs due to the increased demand for highly skilled technical personnel.
Laying the groundwork for sustainable growth: By supporting environmental improvement and carbon-neutral activities, the project lays the groundwork for the sustainable growth of root industries. This is a proactive response to future environmental regulations and an important step towards fulfilling corporate social responsibility.
Securing global competitiveness: Through workforce development and technological innovation, the project is expected to actively respond to changes in the global trade environment and enhance textile export competitiveness, thereby strengthening the status of Korean root industries in the world market.
Ansan City plans to continue to do its best to prepare various support measures that can strengthen and grow local industrial competitiveness. With the selection of this specialized root industry cluster, attention is drawn to whether Ansan City can establish itself as a core hub leading innovation in Korean manufacturing.
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