Songpa-gu, Recruiting Companies to Participate in the Social Economy Living Lab Project

Possible Experiments in Various Fields to Solve Community Issues Such as Safety, Environment, and Welfare

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Songpa-gu (Mayor Park Seong-su) is recruiting companies to participate in the ‘Social Economy Living Lab Project (hereinafter referred to as the Project)’ until July 10.

‘Living Lab’ means ‘living laboratory,’ where the living environment becomes a laboratory, and residents lead the discovery of social problems in daily life, design solutions, and change lives through social innovation techniques.

The ‘Social Economy Living Lab Project’ promoted by Songpa-gu makes Songpa-gu the ‘laboratory’ and local social enterprises the ‘researchers’ to identify local problems and solve them through cooperation or technological convergence with research institutes, local governments, companies, and civil society.

Examples of the project include ▲creating jobs in the non-face-to-face industry ▲bridging the digital information gap ▲reducing fine dust ▲senior and child care, and any problem-solving project in various fields of daily life is possible.

The call for applications targets (preliminary) social enterprises located in Songpa-gu, and applications can also be made through consortia (collaborations) among (preliminary) social enterprises. After first and second rounds of screening, the final selection and contract signing are scheduled for the end of July.

The district plans to select around two companies and provide differential support for Living Lab project development and operation costs within a total budget of 30 million KRW.

Additionally, if necessary, expert consulting will be provided to enhance the feasibility and sustainability of the project.

For more details, refer to the announcement on the ‘Notices and Announcements’ board on the Songpa-gu Office website or contact the Social Economy Team of the Job Policy Division at Songpa-gu Office.

Mayor Park Seong-su of Songpa-gu said, “Through this project, we will actively support Songpa social enterprises to innovatively realize social and economic values as agents solving community problems,” and added, “In preparation for the post-COVID-19 era, we ask for the active participation of excellent companies to improve the quality of life for Songpa residents.”