K-Startup in the Spotlight Worldwide... Swept CES2022 Innovation Awards

29 of 34 Innovation Award Winners Are Startups
Innovation Covers IT, Mobility, Healthcare, and Robotics

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] When a tree equipped with dozens of transparent leaves attached with bead-shaped solar cells begins solar power generation like photosynthesis, infinite solar energy is produced and charged into a large battery buried at the tree's root. A solar power tree identical in shape to a real tree is completed by mounting 1mm bead-shaped solar cells along with sensors and communication chips on transparent PCBs (circuit boards) the size of leaves. It is a single power plant capable of producing up to 1KW of power per tree without damaging the natural landscape. SoftPVB, a solar cell specialist company, won the Innovation Award at CES for two consecutive years with this 3D solar cell technology.

Domestic startups have been recognized for their technological capabilities at CES, the world's largest IT and home appliance exhibition.

According to the industry on the 16th, at CES2022 held in January next year, not only major domestic companies such as Samsung and LG but also numerous domestic startups won Innovation Awards, paving the way for entry into the global market.

This year, 34 Korean companies received CES Innovation Awards. Among them, 29 were startups that attracted global market attention. Especially, technologies innovating non-face-to-face daily life due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic performed well.

The award-winning companies include DotHill, which developed a smart monitor stand that guides posture improvement using a 3D distance sensor; MacroAct, which introduced a robot autonomous control solution; BitSensing, which developed autonomous driving radar sensor technology; AI4Pet, an AI pet health diagnosis solution; VisualCamp, which developed gaze tracking software; and Phyto, which introduced a near-infrared muscle measurement healthcare device, totaling 29 companies recognized for diverse innovative technologies.

SoftPV, a solar cell specialist company that won the CES Innovation Award for two consecutive years, showcased the solar tree Soltria made with bead-type solar cells, demonstrating its zero-energy technology capabilities. Photo (bottom right) bead-type solar cells, (top right) leaf-shaped transparent solar cell circuit board, (left) solar tree Soltria. Photo by SoftPV

PetNow, which developed pet identification technology using the unique nose pattern of animals, received the Grand Innovation Award, highly evaluating the originality of the technology. SoftPVB, which introduced the solar power tree using bead-shaped solar cells, also won the Innovation Award in the smart energy field for two consecutive years, proving global market interest in zero-energy technology amid carbon neutrality issues.

The industry expects that, buoyed by the Innovation Award achievements, the participation rate of domestic startups at CES2022 will reach an all-time high. Previously, about 260 domestic startups participated in CES2021, debuting on the world stage. This is a significant increase from 113 companies in 2019. On-site, it is viewed that the consistent and active participation of domestic startups in CES to build global competitiveness has led to these good results. This year, startups supported by Samsung Electronics, Naver, and Kakao also made the Innovation Award list, suggesting that the number of participating startups will increase further.

An industry insider said, “As the technological capabilities of domestic startups have rapidly improved recently, CES is gaining attention as a debut stage for global expansion,” adding, “With strategic support from large companies such as KOTRA, Samsung, Naver, and Kakao expanding, the barriers for domestic startups to participate in CES have lowered, leading to achievements such as Innovation Award wins and increased participation rates.”

CES (Consumer Electronics Show) is the world's largest IT, home appliance, and tech exhibition hosted by the Consumer Technology Association in the United States, held every January in Las Vegas. The CES Innovation Award is given by the Consumer Technology Association to products first released to the market that year, recognizing outstanding technology, design, and innovation.

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