[THE INVESTOR] South Korea’s government on Sept. 6 rolled out a set of measures to promote the so-called “maker movement”.

The term refers to a social trend in which anyone with creativity and innovation can now be a maker of products and ideas thanks to the widespread availability of technology and access to information, the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning said.

The announcement was made after a Cabinet meeting presided over by Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn.

The ministry will support individuals or groups of individuals for all processes from the production of a pilot product based on a creative idea at creative economy innovation centers across the country.

South Korea earlier set up 17 innovation centers across the country as part of its push for the establishment of a creative economy and to eventually create more jobs for young people.

The centers are to match up local startups and venture firms with conglomerates, which can provide resources to smaller companies so that they can turn creative ideas into real business opportunities. The ministry said the center will act as a platform by providing access to tools, information and resources needed to design and innovate a maker‘s ideas.

(theinvestor@heraldcorp.com)