The government will start the "AI application product rapid commercialisation support programme (AX Sprint)" from March, after drawing up a plan jointly with 11 related ministries to accelerate artificial intelligence (AI) transformation (AX) across industry and daily life.

The project focuses on speeding up the commercialisation of AI-based products and services that can be launched within 1 to 2 years in fields closely tied to daily life and industry, such as manufacturing, agriculture, livestock and fisheries, and land and transport, related ministries said on Tuesday.

There has been an assessment that, compared with public interest in AI, the spread of AX at industrial sites and in daily life has been relatively slow. The government waived the preliminary feasibility study last year and secured a budget to support rapid AX. It then formed a consultative body among 11 ministries, including the budget office, the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, and carried out preparatory work.

The programme will focus on five areas: manufacturing; agriculture, livestock and fisheries; land and transport; health, welfare and environment; and daily life, security and defence. Ten ministries, including the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, will support the development and launch of a total of 246 AI products. Of this year's AX budget of 2.4 trillion won, it will spend 613.5 billion won, the largest single project allocation. It will provide 473.5 billion won in contributions and subsidies to support product development and launch costs, along with 140.0 billion won in loans. The government plans to invest a total of 754.0 billion won in 2026 to 2027, including 140.5 billion won in continuing project funding in 2027.

Applications can be made either by a consortium involving AI technology suppliers and demand companies, universities and research institutions, or by individual companies. The government plans to support costs tailored to corporate needs for AI model development, demonstrations and building mass production systems, and obtaining certifications and intellectual property rights. For outstanding products, it will also provide follow-up support such as joint exhibition booths at overseas trade shows, links to public procurement and regulatory improvements.

Vice Finance Minister Ki-geun Lim (임기근), acting minister of the budget office, said, "We will do our best with related ministries so that the government's pump-priming investment can speed up the early commercialisation of AI application products and create an AX boom that changes people's lives at industrial sites and in daily life."