SKC, jointly with Masters of Industry to help SMEs/startups build competitiveness

• To concentrate on the nurture of materials businesses, as part of the New materials-related technology-_ base_d Open Platform, which it started in 2017

• To build platforms desired by businesses, including the exploration of outside experts like NAEK(the National Academy of Engineering of Korea)

SKC (President, Lee Wan-jae) is introducing the “Masters of Industry” program, which is an extended version of the New materials-related technology-_ base_d Open Platform, which it promotes to build the competiveness of the materials industry, and to spread their social values. Masters of Industry is a platform-_ base_d service that _ link_s small-sized materials businesses that require professional knowledge with relevant experts.

On September 22, the Company opened the Masters of Industry service within its Open Platform. The service experts are registered as Masters of Industry, so that businesses requiring assistance may select experts who fit their purpose in order to receive consulting. In July, the Company signed an agreement with the National Academy of Engineering of Korea, which is known as the highest authority on engineering technology, to work together to strengthen the country’s materials industry. The aforementioned service will be provided with the participation of the experts of the academy.

The service is intended to provide assistance to materials businesses. It invites domestic small-sized materials business startups, in addition to those participating in its Open Platform. All these businesses have to do is to subscribe for the service and find an expert who fits their purpose.

The lineup of experts now includes individuals who can provide more detailed and customized service to businesses. Phase 1 of the service was started with more than 200 experts from institutions participating in Open Platform. SKC plans to provide deeper and wider service by exploring outside experts.

The Company will also upgrade the system so businesses may use the service more conveniently. The experts will be divided into full-time and part-time. The fields of service will be further segmented. A data_ base_ matching system will be added for the convenience of users.

Commenting on the matter, an SKC official said, “With the opening of the Masters of Industry service, we are now able to provide detailed consultations with individual experts, which is in contrast with the past practice, relying completely on those from institutions participating in Open Platform. We are committed to contributing to the formation of the country’s materials industry ecosystem, with the assistance of the experts of businesses in which we invest, including SK picglobal and SK nexilis, etc. and outside experts.”

SKC, jointly with the Ulsan Center for Creative Economy & Innovation, built Open Platform in 2017. The following year, the Company started the SKC Startup Plus Open Competition/Exhibition to select businesses participating in Open Platform. Now, the Company is striving to expand Open Platform by increasing the number of participants. As a result, the Company was selected as the 14^th ‘voluntary win-win business cooperating with others’ by the MSS in May.

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[SKC’s Masters of Industry service _ link_s small-sized materials businesses that require professional knowledge with relevant experts.]

[The Masters of Industry service, introduced by SKC, _ link_s small-sized materials businesses that require professional knowledge with relevant experts. This is its relevant homepage.

.(www.techopenplatform.co.kr) ]