Kibo Visits Kibo-Star Companies in Chungcheong to Review Support Achievements

Visit to Chungcheong Valley Company "Smart Korea"
Sharing On-Site Achievements and Exploring Additional Cooperation for Scaling Up

On August 14, the Korea Technology Finance Corporation (Kibo) announced that it had visited Smart Korea, which was selected as a Kibo-Star Valley company in the Chungcheong region, to share the results of its support and listen to on-site feedback.

Jung Daeyoung, Head of the Korea Technology Finance Corporation Chungcheong Regional Headquarters (fourth from the left), along with Kibo employees, Hana Bank branch manager, Smart Korea CEO, and executives, are posing for a commemorative photo after an on-site meeting. Korea Technology Finance Corporation

This visit was organized to directly assess the current status and challenges of Kibo-Star Valley companies on-site, and to explore additional cooperation measures to promote scaling up. The event was attended by the head of Kibo's Chungcheong Regional Headquarters, the head of Kibo's Daejeon Branch, the branch manager of Hana Bank, as well as the CEO and employees of Smart Korea. Participants toured the research and development department and manufacturing processes, exchanging a variety of opinions.

Smart Korea, established in August 2013, possesses advanced manufacturing technology for high-value-added porous carbon supports using petroleum by-product-based raw materials. Building on this, the company has expanded its business from activated carbon for water treatment to anode materials for secondary batteries, taking the lead in the localization of carbon materials.

Kibo-Star Valley is Kibo's flagship scaling-up support program for innovative companies with outstanding technology and growth potential. The program offers tailored support based on the company's age and growth stage, including: ▲pre-approved guarantee limits (ranging from KRW 3 billion to KRW 10 billion depending on the stage), ▲preferential guarantee rates (95% for three years), and ▲guarantee fee reductions (0.5 percentage points for three years).

Chang Chaewon, CEO of Smart Korea, stated, "Being selected as a Kibo-Star Valley company at a time when mass production facilities are being established and follow-up technology development is in full swing has enabled us to secure timely funding and continue our growth." Jae Young Jung, head of Kibo's Chungcheong Regional Headquarters, commented, "Through this visit, we were able to directly confirm the achievements and potential of Kibo-Star Valley companies. Kibo will continue to actively discover innovative companies with technological prowess and growth potential, and provide strong support so they can grow into globally competitive enterprises."