LIG D&A Partners with Startups to Grow the Defense Industry Ecosystem

First Tech Summit Held
20 Startups and Partners Participate
Accelerating the Commercialization of Technologies

LIG Defense & Aerospace (LIG D&A) has begun efforts to expand the defense industry ecosystem through collaboration with startups and partner companies.

Participants attending the 1st LIG D&A Tech Summit are taking a commemorative photo. LIG Defense & Aerospace

On April 27, LIG D&A announced that it had held the "Tech Summit" at Lotte World Tower in Jamsil. The event brought together companies invested in by the Defense Innovation Fund, existing partner companies, and representatives from LIG D&A to discuss the application of advanced technologies to national defense and explore cooperation strategies.

Approximately 90 people attended the event, including representatives from 20 startups such as Davio, Link Solution, and Pablo Air, which are recipients of the first round of investment from the Defense Innovation Fund, as well as 32 key partner companies and LIG D&A CEO Shin Ikhyun and other executives and staff.

The main focus of the event was to combine the technological capabilities of startups and the production capacities of partner companies with the integrated capabilities of LIG D&A as a system integrator. CEO Shin Ikhyun stated, "The agility and flexibility of startups are essential for the defense industry," adding, "Our goal is not just to introduce new technologies, but to integrate them with our partners' production bases and transform them into real business opportunities."

The participating startups introduced technologies such as AI-based satellite image analysis, swarm autonomous flight control, and 3D printing for defense and space applications. Partner companies discussed potential avenues for collaboration, focusing on whether these technologies could be weaponized and if they met quality standards.

The Defense Innovation Fund, established jointly by LIG D&A, the Military Mutual Aid Association, and IBK Capital, is now in its third year. As of April, the fund had invested a total of 43.2 billion won in 20 companies, thereby helping to lower the barriers to entry into the defense industry.

LIG D&A is moving beyond simple investment and accelerating business integration. The company is collaborating with Davio on a small satellite system project, building a data platform with AI data platform company Dtonic, and working with Pablo Air to advance swarm autonomous flight technology.

In addition, LIG D&A is working with PersonaAI on AI voice control technology based on quadruped robots, and with Innospace on cooperation in the space and launch vehicle sectors.

LIG D&A plans to make this event a regular occurrence in order to expand achievements in joint development and production. The company also aims to foster private-sector-led defense innovation companies such as Anduril and Shield AI in the United States.

Shin Ikhyun, CEO of LIG D&A, said, "We will lower barriers for companies with innovative technologies to enter the defense industry and expand the cooperative ecosystem," adding, "Through the creation of a second fund, we will contribute to the growth of the defense industry."

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