The Innobiz Association, a South Korean membership body representing innovative small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises, has held its 97th Innobiz Morning Forum at EL Tower in Seocho-gu, Seoul, convening CEOs and executives from member companies to share future strategies and leadership directions for manufacturing businesses navigating the era of AI transformation.

The Asia Business Daily reported that the forum was held under the theme "Future Strategies and Leadership for Manufacturing Companies in the Era of AI Transformation," with regional member companies across South Korea able to participate in real-time via a live YouTube broadcast, extending the event's reach beyond those physically present.

The keynote address was delivered by Professor Seo Yongseok from the Graduate School of Future Strategy at KAIST, who presented on the impact of AI technology on production methods and the broader management environment in manufacturing. Professor Seo outlined mid- to long-term industrial change forecasts, drawing on the combined effects of demographic shifts and technological innovation, and presented directions for organisational management and leadership that manufacturing companies should consider as AI proliferation accelerates.

Jung Kwangcheon, president of the Innobiz Association, said: "The advancement of AI technology is bringing changes to overall production methods and management environments in the manufacturing industry. The Association will continue to provide various opportunities for information sharing and networking so that member companies can effectively respond to industrial changes."

The 97th forum continues a long-running series of member engagement events through which the Innobiz Association has built a sustained knowledge-sharing infrastructure connecting its member base to emerging research, academic expertise, and strategic insight relevant to manufacturing competitiveness.

The decision to broadcast the forum live via YouTube reflects a broader trend among membership associations toward hybrid programming models that remove geographic barriers to member participation, enabling associations with nationwide or international membership bases to deliver consistent value across all member segments simultaneously.

For associations operating in fast-changing industrial sectors, the Innobiz model demonstrates how regular, themed forum programmes anchored in academic expertise can position a membership body as a central resource for member adaptation to structural technological change, reinforcing the association's relevance during periods of significant disruption.

Access the full report on the Innobiz Association's 97th Morning Forum on AI transformation strategies for manufacturing.