Busan National University Hosts the 4th National Startup Competition for Disabled and Non-Disabled University Students

12 National Universities, Including Busan National University and Hankyong National University, Host the Event
257 Participants from 72 Universities Join, Igniting Passion for Future Entrepreneurship

The 'National Disabled-Non-disabled University (Graduate) Student Startup Competition,' aimed at expanding entrepreneurial opportunities and nurturing talent among students with disabilities, was held this year in Busan.

This event, which has become a hotbed for discovering youth startup ideas, is hosted annually by major national universities across the country, rotating through metropolitan cities and provinces.

Busan National University (President Choi Jae-won) co-hosted the competition with Hankyong National University (President Lee Won-hee) from the 4th to the 7th of this month at BEXCO and Hanwha Resort in Haeundae-gu, Busan.

Busan National University is hosting a startup competition for disabled and non-disabled undergraduate and graduate students.

The purpose of the event is to promote social participation and expand entrepreneurial opportunities for students with disabilities, enhance social inclusiveness, broaden the technology, knowledge, and mindset necessary for startups, and discover promising startup ideas to nurture future entrepreneurs.

This year's competition was hosted by 12 regional representative national universities, including Busan National University and Hankyong National University. It was supported by the Ministry of Education, the Korea Institute of Startup & Entrepreneurship Development, the Korea Disabled Enterprise Comprehensive Support Center, and the National Science Talent Development Institute, with cooperation from 46 partner universities nationwide such as Korea University, and companies including Shinhan Bank, Kakao Corp., T-Money Co., Sidiz Co., and Woowa Brothers Corp.

Now in its fourth year, the competition invited proposals for startup ideas based on ESG principles that can create social value across all sectors. A total of 257 applicants from 72 universities nationwide formed 36 teams, and after a preliminary round evaluating business plans, 21 teams comprising 105 participants advanced to the finals.

Teams consisted of up to five domestic university (graduate) students, including at least one student with a disability. In particular, the team leader and presenter roles were assigned to students with disabilities to actively encourage their participation.

The finalist teams received two days of startup training during the competition period and participated in the IR (Investor Relations) presentation contest held at BEXCO on the 6th, where 12 teams ultimately won awards. The event focused on providing practical connections to entrepreneurship and employment by supporting mock startup activities and offering networking opportunities with industry experts and mentors.

The grand prize was awarded to the team 'Bitnaon,' a coalition of Kyung Hee University, Soonchunhyang University, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Kangnam University, and Kyungpook National University, who presented the startup idea of a "wearable braille display (Luminix)" combining portability, readability, and affordability. They received the Minister of Education Award. The winning team is eligible for benefits such as exemption from document screening in startup support projects by the Korea Institute of Startup & Entrepreneurship Development and the Korea Disabled Enterprise Comprehensive Support Center.

Kang Jeong-eun, Director of Industry-Academic Cooperation at Busan National University and Professor of Urban Engineering, stated, "This competition was especially designed to provide students with disabilities the opportunity to take the lead in planning and executing startups. It lowered the barriers to entrepreneurship by having disabled and non-disabled students form teams and challenge themselves, expanding social inclusiveness and the startup ecosystem. It served as a great opportunity for more students with disabilities to take on entrepreneurship and realize innovative ideas."

The joint team 'Bitnaon' from Kyung Hee University, Soonchunhyang University, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Gangnam University, and Kyungpook National University is receiving the Minister of Education Award and taking a commemorative photo.