Innovative Technologies of Pohang Companies Shining on the Global Stage

30 Local Companies Participate in World's Largest IT Expo 'CES 2023'

Graphene Square, OneSoftDime, Mango Slab, and Others Win 'CES Innovation Awards'

Mayor Lee Kang-deok's Active Engagement, Discusses Issues with Minister Lee Young of the Mi

The International Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2023) held locally in Las Vegas, USA.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Dongguk Lee] As Pohang City accelerates the fostering of future new industries, the achievements of ‘Pohang companies’ participating in the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2023) held locally in Las Vegas, USA, are remarkable.

On the 9th, Pohang City announced that local companies participating in ‘CES 2023,’ the world’s largest information technology (IT) exhibition, were recognized for their global capabilities and competitiveness in future innovative technology fields such as digital health, artificial intelligence (AI), and advanced new materials, receiving the highest honor of CES Innovation Awards, thereby laying the foundation for entering the global market.

Held over four days from the 5th to the 8th local time, ‘CES 2023’ served as a battleground for innovative companies to showcase next-generation industry trends, share global trends, and display advanced products and future technologies. More than 2,500 companies worldwide participated, including major Korean conglomerates such as Samsung, LG, and SK, attracting attention.

In particular, Pohang City, as the only basic local government, established the ‘Pohang Pavilion,’ where booths of 30 local companies with excellent technological capabilities thrived daily, drawing the attention of people worldwide.

Mayor Lee Kang-deok of Pohang (right) and Baek In-gyu, Chairman of the City Council (left), are taking a commemorative photo with a representative of Graphene Square (center), who received the 'CES Innovation Award.'
[Image source=Pohang City]

Among the region’s representative venture companies, Graphene Square (CEO Hong Byunghee), leading the commercialization and technology development of graphene, known as the ‘dream new material,’ OneSoftTime (CEO Lee Daeho), which showcased portable body composition and biometric measurement smart devices, and Mango Slab (CEO Jung Yongsoo), which exhibited hair straighteners based on micro-heating technology such as thermal control systems, achieved the great feat of winning the ‘CES Innovation Award,’ given to innovative technologies and products leading the global market, raising expectations for strengthening their successful presence on the world stage.

To seek ways to strengthen corporate competitiveness linked to future core industries, Mayor Lee Kangdeok of Pohang and his delegation attending ‘CES 2023’ met with Lee Young, Minister of SMEs and Startups, at the CES venue to discuss policies for fostering venture startups and proposed practical support measures for regional balanced development, actively promoting cooperation with central government agencies.

Regarding the designation of the ‘Global Battery Innovation Special Zone,’ selected as one of the new government’s 120 major tasks, Mayor Lee actively appealed Pohang’s differentiated corporate infrastructure and future promotion strategies, requesting special attention and cooperation to designate Pohang as a ‘Special Support Area for Small and Medium Enterprises’ for early recovery from typhoon damage.

Mayor Lee Kangdeok stated, “I am proud of the local companies that are confidently proving their competitiveness on the global stage based on continuous self-innovation and independent technological capabilities amid fierce technological hegemony competition among domestic and international companies,” adding, “We will devote all efforts to creating a corporate environment where bold innovation and challenges can continue, as well as policy efforts and support such as expanding investment and regulatory reform for companies.”