First Dedicated 'Digital Healthcare' Startup Space to Open in Seoul Hongneung in September... Recruiting Resident Companies

Bio+IT Technology Convergence Startup Residency... Recruiting 27 Resident Companies

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Seoul City announced on the 12th that it will open the ‘BT-IT Convergence Center,’ a dedicated startup space for digital healthcare, in Hongneung, which is being developed as a hub for the bio and medical industry, in September. This is the first specialized space for digital healthcare.

The ‘BT-IT Convergence Center’ is being expanded from the former Defense Venture Center near Wolgok Station and is being developed on a scale of 2,884㎡. It can accommodate 27 startups in the digital healthcare field.

In addition to individual office spaces, a ‘Prototype Production Room’ equipped with various high-spec latest equipment such as high-precision 3D printers will also be established. Startups in the early stages can use expensive equipment that would be burdensome to purchase on their own at a low cost, allowing resident companies to focus on technology development.

Furthermore, a server room will be provided so that all resident companies can use high-spec computing resources. A ‘Healthcare Station’ (tentative name) will also be created to exhibit and promote products and services developed by resident companies. In the future, in cooperation with Seongbuk-gu, a ‘Local Resident Experience Group’ will be operated to conduct market response and user testing.

Seoul City announced that it will recruit 27 resident companies for the ‘BT-IT Convergence Center.’ The recruitment period is from the 14th to June 3rd, and applications can be submitted online through the Seoul Bio Hub website.

The target residents are startups and corporate research institutes established less than five years ago, and companies with excellent ideas and technologies in the bio and IT convergence fields will be selected.

The final selected companies can reside for up to four years. During the residency period, they can use independent office spaces and all convenience facilities and research infrastructure of the BT-IT Convergence Center. In addition, resident companies can strengthen their growth competitiveness through customized nurturing programs such as investment attraction and consulting provided to them.

Meanwhile, Seoul City is building infrastructure in two phases to enhance the bio and medical competitiveness of the Hongneung area. In the first phase, Seoul Bio Hub has been operating since 2017. The ‘BT-IT Convergence Center,’ opening in September, is the first facility to open in the second phase of infrastructure development.

Kim Ui-seung, Director of the Economic Policy Office, said, “With the prolongation of COVID-19, the importance of data-based preventive medicine, non-face-to-face treatment, and AI therapy is increasing, and the speed of industrial development will also accelerate. Seoul City will provide thorough support so that promising digital healthcare companies can grow without worries.”

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