Anuta (CEO Lee Myeong-gi) , a subsidiary of Daejeon IT company Plani and a standard workplace for the disabled, announced on the 28th that it has secured equity investment from global medical device company Meta Biomed (CEO Oh Seok-song). This investment is a case of "linked employment," where companies required to hire disabled people invest in standard workplaces instead of directly hiring them. It is being evaluated as a model for expanding a sustainable, private-sector-led employment ecosystem for the disabled.
The size of the investment was not disclosed. Anuta plans to use this investment to enhance the creative environment for disabled AI artists and strengthen its stable employment infrastructure. Anuta, with its mission of "DISABLED + AI = ABLE," is leveraging its parent company Plani's IT expertise to support AI learning and creative capabilities for people with disabilities. Currently, Anuta employs 33 people, including 25 with severe disabilities and 8 with mild disabilities. This equates to 58 jobs based on the disability employment levy.
Anuta trains people with disabilities as "AI artists," providing creative services such as the digital media art "Standby Me" and wedding wreaths. CEO Lee Myeong-gi stated, "This investment will be a crucial step toward establishing a stable employment structure," and announced plans to continue expanding its AI-based inclusive employment model.
Established in 1990, investment firm Meta Biomed is a medical device company specializing in dental materials, surgical sutures, and aesthetic medical devices, supplying them to 110 countries. The company recorded consolidated sales of KRW 94 billion and operating profit of KRW 17.2 billion in 2024. As a company obligated to employ people with disabilities, the company pursued both tangible employment benefits and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) values by investing in standard workplaces for people with disabilities, rather than simply paying a levy.
Meta Biomed has been strengthening its ESG management, focusing on supporting vulnerable populations, contributing to local communities, and building an inclusive employment structure. This investment in Anuta is an extension of this strategy. CEO Oh Seok-song stated, "We sympathize with Anuta's AI-based creative job model. We hope this investment will contribute to realizing social value."
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