Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Launches Contest for 'Smart City Innovation Technologies and Services'

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Wanyong] The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on the 1st that it will implement a public contest project called ‘Verification and Expansion of Smart City Innovation Service Models’ to discover innovative technologies and services owned by small and emerging companies and support their demonstration in the national pilot smart cities (Sejong and Busan).

This project aims to discover about five innovative technologies or services in five fields applicable to smart cities?smart infrastructure, transportation and logistics, health and education, energy and environment, safety and daily life?and link them to demonstration. Up to 300 million KRW per project and a total of 1.35 billion KRW in demonstration costs will be supported.

Busan Smart Village bird's-eye view. [Photo by Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport]

The support areas have been designated as two: a national DR solution based on a smart distribution board system for zero standby power and self-safety management, and the construction of a metaverse village using an AR app for objects.

Companies possessing the relevant technologies can freely apply, and the demonstration will take place in the smart village within Busan Eco Delta City after company selection.

The application period is from the 20th of this month to March 2nd, and after written evaluation (business plan) and presentation evaluation (including Q&A), the selection results will be announced in March. Furthermore, the demonstration of innovative technologies or services will proceed until November after selection.

Park Hyochul, team leader of the Smart City Team at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, said, “We expect active participation from excellent companies with innovative and creative technologies and services,” and added, “We will continue administrative and financial support so that the national pilot smart cities can develop into an innovation ecosystem where various new technologies and new industries are created and evolve.”