Gwangju City Hosts Startup Competition Utilizing Public Data

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] Gwangju Metropolitan City announced on the 10th that it will hold the '2020 Gwangju Public Data Utilization Startup Competition' to discover creative ideas and business models using public data.

The contest categories are divided into two sections: 'Idea Planning' and 'Product and Service Development,' and anyone with creative ideas utilizing public data can participate.

Applications can be submitted from the 20th of this month until June 11th through the startup competition website and in-person at City Hall. After document and presentation evaluations, six outstanding works will be selected as winners of the Gwangju Mayor's Award in July, with a total prize of 12 million KRW awarded.

In particular, the best work in each category will represent Gwangju City in the '8th Pan-Government Public Data Utilization Startup Competition' hosted by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. Various follow-up supports will be provided, including 'technical support consulting' from the Gwangju Cultural Industry Promotion Agency, priority admission to the public data startup space 'Open Square-D,' and qualification to compete in the pan-government integrated finals.

Winners of the integrated finals, hosted by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, will receive mentoring, specialized startup education, and financial support to foster them as early-stage startups.

Song Gwon-chun, head of the Smart City Division of the city, said, "We hope this competition will serve as an opportunity to promote the use of public data and stimulate data-based startups," and added, "We ask for the active participation of those interested."