KCC Recruiting Startups to Participate in 'Open Innovation'

KCC Startup Open Stage Meetup Event Poster.
Photo by KCC

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jong-hwa] KCC is recruiting startups interested in participating ahead of the 'Startup Open Stage Meetup' event to be held on October 20, aimed at discovering and nurturing promising startups to jointly lead open innovation.

KCC plans to collaborate with startups on various themes including its core business areas such as building materials, coatings, and material technologies, as well as digital transformation based on artificial intelligence (AI) and big data, logistics system efficiency, eco-friendly energy, and augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies.

The detailed cooperation fields include ▲ hydrogen BIZ ▲ new materials such as coating and composite material technologies ▲ sustainable management business models (eco-friendly materials and energy-saving technologies, etc.) ▲ work efficiency and automation systems (production, logistics, processes, etc.) ▲ virtual space technologies, and innovative startups possessing various technologies, products, and services leading future technologies are being sought.

This event is held in collaboration with the Seoul Center for Creative Economy and Innovation, and the application period is until the 23rd. Startups wishing to participate can submit their application forms and collaboration proposals online. Detailed information on recruitment fields and qualifications can be found on the Seoul Center for Creative Economy and Innovation website and the program application page.

After the meetup, the final selected companies will be given opportunities for business cooperation with KCC, proof of concept (PoC), joint technology development, and investment. Various follow-up supports will also be provided, including the Korea International Trade Association (additional points for recommendation of startups’ overseas expansion vouchers by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups), Korea Credit Guarantee Fund (Start-up NEST recommendation and guarantee support review), and Seoul Center for Creative Economy and Innovation (linked with the InStage investment program, preferential residency at S Village, and legal service support).

A KCC official stated, "We plan to discover future growth engines and actively promote open innovation through collaboration with promising startups," adding, "We hope many startups armed with fresh ideas and technologies will participate to leave a good collaboration case that can build a win-win cooperation structure in the domestic startup ecosystem."

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