The Korea Data Industry Promotion Agency (K-DATA), led by President Yang Jae-soo, is accepting applications through July 21 for its 2026 AI & Data Problem Solving Bank Customized Support Program, targeting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and aspiring entrepreneurs.
The initiative is designed to help businesses solve real-world management challenges using data and artificial intelligence while building practical digital transformation (DX) and AI transformation (AX) capabilities. Rather than offering conventional consulting, the program focuses on diagnosing company-specific issues, establishing data utilization frameworks, and enabling organizations to integrate AI into day-to-day operations.
Three-tier support tailored to digital maturity
This year's program is structured around three support tracks—DX Experience, DX Application Support, and AX Intensive Support—allowing companies to receive assistance based on their level of digital maturity.
The framework provides a step-by-step pathway, ranging from businesses with little experience in data utilization to organizations that already possess proprietary data and are preparing for AI-driven operational innovation.
Building execution capabilities beyond AI adoption
While AI has become a strategic competitive asset, many SMEs continue to face barriers to implementation due to limited data expertise, technical resources, and practical experience.
The DX Experience Track will support 260 companies through data analysis model matching, hands-on training, and capability-building programs for organizations beginning their data journey.
The DX Application Support Track, covering 100 companies, offers data literacy education and expert consulting for businesses seeking to solve operational challenges using their existing datasets.
The AX Intensive Support Track will assist seven companies requiring advanced AI implementation strategies by supporting data architecture development, proof-of-concept (PoC) projects, and operational deployment.
Even organizations with limited AI experience will receive expert guidance throughout the entire process—from identifying business challenges and defining analytical objectives to data analysis and practical implementation. Customized consulting based on comparable industry cases is intended to help participants translate analytical insights into measurable business outcomes.
Rather than focusing solely on introducing AI technologies, the program is designed to strengthen companies' long-term ability to make data-driven business decisions.
Data capability becomes the foundation of AI competitiveness
The 2025 edition of the program selected 367 companies, attracting competition of 3.25 applicants per position. Between August and November, participating organizations completed projects ranging from digital capability enhancement and operational efficiency improvements to customer demand forecasting.
Beyond delivering short-term project outcomes, many participants established internal foundations for sustained data-driven management.
Several companies also demonstrated notable results. FreshTech, which developed a livestock healthcare solution, and Wave & Vibe, which created an AI-powered recipe recommendation algorithm by refining and analyzing recipe data, received the Minister of Science and ICT Award in recognition of their innovation achievements.
From technology adoption to operational transformation
As AI competition expands beyond model performance to real-world industrial deployment, execution capabilities are becoming a critical differentiator. For SMEs, competitive advantage increasingly depends on the ability to collect, manage, and operationalize data—not simply adopt AI technologies.
The AI & Data Problem Solving Bank addresses this challenge through a structured pathway from DX to AX based on each company's level of digital maturity. By helping businesses establish data-driven management systems and integrate AI into everyday operations, the program aims to accelerate practical business transformation while strengthening Korea's broader industrial AI ecosystem.
Regional briefings begin July 9
K-DATA will hold regional information sessions from July 9 to July 16 for prospective applicants.
The sessions will explain the program's objectives, eligibility requirements, and application procedures while also providing one-on-one consultations and application support. Additional information is available through K-DATA and the AI & Data Problem Solving Bank.
President Yang said: "The AI & Data Problem Solving Bank supports SMEs in generating tangible business results by applying data and AI in real operational environments. It is designed to accelerate practical AI adoption and digital transformation in response to rapidly changing industrial conditions."
As AI adoption enters a new phase, competitive advantage is increasingly determined by how effectively organizations convert data into operational results. By enabling SMEs to build sustainable data capabilities and deploy AI in real business environments, K-DATA is seeking to expand Korea's AI competitiveness beyond technology development and into industrial execution.
