Recruiting 20 Companies to Demonstrate Innovative Technologies for Solving Urban Issues in Seoul

'2020 Testbed Seoul' Contest Announcement

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The Seoul Metropolitan Government is offering companies developing innovative technologies needed to solve urban problems and improve public services the opportunity to test their technologies for up to one year at various facilities such as subways, roads, and schools, along with providing 500 million KRW in demonstration project funds.

On the 1st, Seoul announced that it will publicly recruit companies to develop 20 technologies required in actual administrative sites through the '2020 Testbed Seoul' project.

Previously, companies had to independently investigate applicable sites and propose demonstrations, but starting this year, demand institutions will publicly disclose the innovative technologies they need, and companies can apply accordingly, thereby increasing the applicability of the technologies, the city explained. The evaluation period for the testbed is also expected to be shortened by more than two weeks, from the previous 8 weeks to 6 weeks.

Additionally, to enhance the technological capabilities of companies participating in Testbed Seoul, the city will provide ongoing consulting throughout the demonstration period. Rather than merely offering demonstration opportunities, an 'Innovation Technology Support Group' consisting of about 200 experts in technology, marketing, and investment will provide customized professional consulting by field to the demonstration companies. After the demonstration, results will be evaluated and a 'Demonstration Confirmation Certificate' will be issued to help companies use it as a reference for domestic and international market expansion.

Over the past two years, the city has selected a total of 39 innovative technologies, providing opportunities for demonstration in administrative sites and supporting 15.5 billion KRW in demonstration costs. This year, five innovative technologies (four R&D support types and one opportunity provision type), including artificial intelligence for illegal parking control, smart sensors for water quality monitoring, and evacuation guidance lights for fire emergencies, have been selected and will enter demonstration for up to one year.

Kim Ui-seung, Director of Economic Policy at Seoul City, said, "We have reorganized the project from this year to reduce the burden on companies so that many companies with innovative technologies and services can participate in Testbed Seoul. We will discover technologies that can solve problems in transportation, safety, welfare, and provide new growth engines to startup companies struggling to expand their markets."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.