Agency holds forum with 16 innovative firms, pledges to ease regulatory burden
A forum has been held to discuss removing regulatory barriers and unreasonable practices that innovative companies face in the public procurement market.
The Public Procurement Service and the Korea Association of Government Procurement Technology held a meeting Tuesday at the association's conference room in Seoul, with representatives from 16 companies producing excellent and innovative products in attendance.
Association President Lee Hyeong-gak and participants put forward four proposals: improving the direct-production verification process for excellent products, expanding AI technology products' access to the excellent product designation, strengthening post-designation management of innovative products, and extending the application window for renewing innovative product designations.
The Public Procurement Service said it would create a dedicated AI technology category within the excellent product designation review process to invigorate the AI industry in the public procurement market. It also said it would reform the direct-production system to require companies to follow a manufacturing process chart — covering the core technologies they submit — from the initial application stage through post-designation management.
The agency also said it would extend the renewal application period for innovative products from the current 30 days to 60 days to prevent missed deadlines, and would remove overlapping proposal items to reduce the burden on applicant companies during presentations.
Last year, supply of excellent and innovative products reached 5.5 trillion won, accounting for 7.9 percent of total procurement — including goods and services — of 69 trillion won ($51.4 billion).
"Public procurement plays a crucial role in helping excellent and innovative product companies take the next leap forward," association President Lee said, calling on the Public Procurement Service to reflect industry voices in policy reforms and expand market access so that such companies can grow stably in a better environment.
Public Procurement Service Commissioner Baek Seung-bo said excellent and innovative products combining technological capability and quality are "the core driver leading innovation and raising competitiveness in the public procurement market." He added that the agency would continue to develop procurement policies that companies can feel in practice, ensuring they remain aligned with conditions on the ground and supporting the genuine growth of technology-driven small and midsize enterprises.
kwonhl@heraldcorp.com
