Link Solution selected for South Korea's Global Strong Small Giant 1000+ Project

Link Solution, a South Korean smart manufacturing company specializing in metal additive manufacturing, announced on June 12 that it has been selected for the Ministry of SMEs and Startups' '2026 Global Strong Small Giant 1000+ Project.' The program identifies high-potential export SMEs and provides tailored support including export vouchers, financial and R&D incentives, and local government linkages. CEO Geunsik Lee stated the designation validates the company's technology and global growth potential, and that Link Solution will combine government support with its Daejeon foundry's advanced manufacturing capabilities to become a leading global AM foundry.

The selection places Link Solution within a growing cohort of Asian AM service providers leveraging government industrial policy to scale. The company already holds KS Q 9100 certification for aerospace quality management, enabling it to produce metal 3D-printed parts for aerospace and defense applications. It has also signed an MOU with the Republic of Korea Army's 72nd Infantry Division for defense AM technology cooperation and logistics innovation. This mirrors a broader pattern where government-backed AM service bureaus in South Korea, Japan, and China are using policy support to build certified production capacity for defense and aerospace, segments that traditionally require years of qualification work.

For Link Solution, the practical next step is converting this policy endorsement into actual export contracts. The company's stated ambition to become a 'global foundry' will depend on whether it can secure repeat orders from international aerospace and defense primes, not just domestic military units. The KS Q 9100 certification is a necessary but not sufficient condition — buyers will also demand demonstrated production repeatability, material traceability, and delivery reliability. The 2027 program deadline gives the company roughly 18 months to show commercial traction.