[Asia Economy Reporter Yoonju Hwang] SKC is selecting the 4th batch of companies for the new material technology contest 'SKC Startup Plus.' Now in its fourth year, SKC Startup Plus is a program that selects companies with promising technologies and helps commercialize them using the tangible and intangible assets of the 'New Material Technology-Based Open Platform,' which involves 11 participating institutions.
SKC is recruiting participating companies for the 4th batch of 'SKC Startup Plus' starting from the 9th. The target applicants are prospective entrepreneurs, startups, and small and medium-sized enterprises with creative ideas or technologies related to high-function, high-value-added industrial materials such as mobility, eco-friendliness, and energy saving. Interested parties can refer to the announcement on the Ulsan Creative Economy Innovation Center website and apply by emailing the person in charge (tnwls3654@ccei.kr) by April 13.
The final selected teams, about 10 in number, will be announced on April 30 after document and presentation evaluations. SKC will share its 40 years of expertise as a materials-specialized company, including technology commercialization support funds, management know-how, and R&D infrastructure.
In particular, through the consulting service 'Industry Experts,' which started last year, assistance is provided in all areas necessary for business, including technology, finance, safety and environment, and startup-related matters. Industry Experts is a platform service that connects nationwide small and medium-sized materials companies requiring specialized knowledge with industry experts.
Partner institutions add expertise in their respective fields. The Korean Academy of Engineering, which participated last year, provides professional advice on management, factory operations, and research and development. The Korea Technology Finance Corporation matches the necessary technologies for selected companies. The Korea Startup Forum is responsible for supporting startup growth. The law firm Sejong provides legal advice and more.
The Ulsan Creative Economy Innovation Center offers education and follow-up projects necessary for company operations, and the Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information helps upgrade commercialization and research/planning capabilities. The R&D Strategy Planning Group handles policy education and system improvements, and Deloitte Anjin Accounting Corporation provides accounting advice and connections to global investment institutions. Shinhan Bank supports finance through technology valuation. The Ulsan Techno Center is responsible for technology support for venture and small businesses.
SKC, which built the open platform with the Ulsan Creative Economy Innovation Center and others in 2017, launched the 'SKC Startup Plus Contest' in 2018. Since then, it has been focusing on expanding the open platform by increasing the number of participating institutions and companies with specialized capabilities. In May 2020, SKC was selected as the 14th ‘Jasangan Company’ (voluntary win-win cooperation company) by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups.
An SKC official said, "We will do our best to strengthen the materials industry ecosystem by nurturing promising companies in the materials field in cooperation with institutions participating in the new material technology-based open platform," adding, "We will continue to strive to have more institutions participate in the platform to provide greater support to promising companies."
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