Panel Calls for Cooperation Policies Reaching Underserved SMEs and Small Merchants

Large corporations, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and startups gathered in one place and formed a consensus that they must expand win-win cooperation funds and profit sharing and build a cooperative ecosystem that encompasses second- and third-tier suppliers.

Joo Jong-heung, vice president of Hylium Industries, stressed the importance of win-win cooperation funds during a panel discussion at the "2026 Korea Win-Win Cooperation Conference" held on the 9th at the Yeongbin Hall of the Shilla Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul. "Through funds and other means, large corporations can support the growth of SMEs, and the grown SMEs can in turn contribute to expanding the large corporations' revenue, creating a virtuous cycle," Joo explained.

Hylium Industries is a company that develops liquid hydrogen storage and transport systems, and it carried out the demonstration of a liquid hydrogen transport system through support from POSCO's win-win cooperation fund. In this process, POSCO developed a high-strength stainless steel for liquid hydrogen storage, and the two companies jointly verified the product and obtained new technology certification.

Kim Jong-kyu, CEO of Sixty Hertz, which develops virtual power plant software for the transition to renewable energy, introduced cases of cooperation with SK Innovation and Hyundai Motor. "The proof-of-concept (PoC) projects based on the win-win cooperation fund played a major role in creating business opportunities," Kim said. He added, "In the early stage when the domestic market was not sufficiently formed, we were able to pioneer new markets together with large corporations."

The financial sector said it would expand financial support to underpin win-win cooperation. Kim Kyung-nam, head of the ESG division at KB Financial Group, said, "Going beyond the existing large corporation-centered win-win programs, we will create a virtuous cycle in the industrial ecosystem that encompasses even the SMEs and small merchants in the blind spots." He added, "Beyond simple funding support, we will play the role of a financial partner for sustainable growth."

There was also a suggestion that, to build a win-win ecosystem, participation of various stakeholders including second- and third-tier suppliers must be increased. Byun Tae-sub, secretary general of the Korea Commission for Corporate Partnership, pointed out, "Win-win cooperation is difficult to sustain through a method in which large corporations unilaterally support SMEs alone." He said, "It is time to create a healthy win-win ecosystem in which not only large corporations and SMEs but also various stakeholders such as the financial sector and public institutions participate together." Jung Hee-sub, head of Hyundai Motor's win-win cooperation office, explained, "We have established a five-year plan to support second- and third-tier suppliers and secured the related budget."

The government plans to expand institutional support to encourage companies' voluntary win-win cooperation. Lee Eun-cheong, director general of the win-win cooperation policy bureau at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, said, "The current shared growth paradigm is shifting toward a direction in which not only suppliers but also startups, small merchants, and local communities grow together." He added, "Through the Win-Win Cooperation Act as well as the payment-linkage system, the technology protection system, and the livelihood-type suitable business system, we will actively support win-win cooperation between large corporations and SMEs."