The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced that from the 16th, it will begin the application process for designating ‘National Advanced Strategic Industry Specialized Complexes’ targeting the fields of robots, defense, and secondary batteries. This application aims to secure the super-gap competitiveness of the newly added fields of robots and defense, and to strengthen the supply chain of the secondary battery industry.
The robotics (humanoid) and defense (advanced aircraft engines) fields, newly designated as national advanced strategic industries this year, will establish a manufacturing ecosystem base through this application. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy plans to newly designate specialized complexes that can promote the aggregation of advanced manufacturing technologies and related industries.
In the secondary battery sector, the goal is to complete the full cycle of the value chain in connection with existing specialized complexes (Cheongju, Ulsan, Pohang, Saemangeum). Particularly, additional regions will be designated to support the production of basic raw materials, strengthening the industrial ecosystem from securing raw materials to recycling.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy will receive applications such as ‘Specialized Complex Development Plans’ from central administrative agencies, metropolitan cities and provinces, and related companies until 6 p.m. on February 27, 2026. The plans submitted through the application will undergo expert advisory panel reviews and specialized complex subcommittee evaluations, and the final designation decision will be made through deliberation and resolution procedures presided over by the Prime Minister at the National Advanced Strategic Industry Committee.
The newly designated specialized complexes will be announced in the second half of 2026.
Additionally, in January 2026, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy plans to hold a briefing session on the designation of specialized complexes, providing guidelines on application conditions, procedures, and how to prepare development plans, along with a Q&A session for relevant agencies and companies.
This application is a core strategy for securing competitiveness in advanced industries and ensuring supply chain independence. The Ministry intends to strengthen regional-based advanced industry clusters centering around the specialized complexes.
