Drone, Autonomous Driving, AI and Other Innovative Technologies Tested for 1 Year + Up to 400 Million KRW Demonstration Project Budget... 9.5 Billion KRW Invested Annually
284 Billion KRW Supported for 72 Innovative Technologies Over 3 Years
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 14th that it will conduct the ‘2021 Testbed Seoul Demonstration Project,’ which provides opportunities to ‘test (demonstrate)’ various facilities and sites for up to one year targeting innovative technologies of the 4th Industrial Revolution, and supports project costs up to 400 million KRW. The total scale is 9.5 billion KRW.
After the demonstration, results will be evaluated and ‘Demonstration Certificates’ will be issued to outstanding companies to help them utilize these certificates for domestic and international market development. The most significant benefit for companies participating in the ‘Testbed Seoul’ project in developing domestic and overseas markets is the ‘Demonstration Certificate’ issued in the name of the Seoul Metropolitan Government. Innovative companies have achieved 8.15 billion KRW in public procurement and 4.85 billion KRW in investment attraction over the past three years through these certificates.
This year, the ‘Testbed’ application method is operated in two ways: ▲‘Demand Task Type,’ which increases the possibility of applying innovative technologies to city administration sites by publicly disclosing 30 innovative technologies such as drones, artificial intelligence, and robots needed by all departments of Seoul City in advance to recruit demonstration companies, and ▲‘Open Call Type,’ where companies propose demonstrations of their innovative technology products and services to Seoul City. All applications are accepted through the ‘New Technology Reception Center.’
Thirty percent (2.8 billion KRW) of the total demonstration project budget will be invested in the ‘Quarantine and Biomedical Specialized Testbed’ to focus on supporting demonstrations and market development of innovative technology companies in the post-COVID-19 response field, which has high domestic and international demand.
Additionally, to enhance the technological capabilities of companies participating in ‘Testbed Seoul,’ continuous consulting will be provided through the ‘Innovative Technology Support Group,’ composed of 200 experts in fields such as drones, IT, robotics, marketing, and investment during the demonstration period, to assist in the commercialization of demonstration products and services.
This year’s ‘Testbed Seoul Demonstration Project’ will be operated in two main types. The budget support type is for small and medium-sized enterprises and startups only, supporting demonstration locations and demonstration costs (up to 400 million KRW). The opportunity provision type provides only demonstration locations without cost support and allows participation by large and medium-sized enterprises as well.
Applications for company proposals for ‘Testbed Seoul’ can be submitted online 24/7, 365 days a year through the ‘New Technology Reception Center.’ The progress of the selection evaluation will be disclosed in real time through the ‘New Technology Reception Center.’ However, if many companies with innovative technologies are selected early in the recruitment phase, the process may close early depending on the progress.
Kim Eui-seung, Director of Seoul City’s Economic Policy Office, said, “The Testbed project is a gateway that fully supports the two most important aspects for small and medium-sized enterprises and startups: technological capability and market development. From this year, we will strengthen support not only for innovative technologies that can contribute to solving Seoul’s urban problems such as transportation, safety, and welfare but also for the quarantine and biomedical fields leading the post-COVID-19 era.”
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