Fifth Seoul Startup Hub to Feature Microfactory
Project Aims for Completion by July 2029
The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that it will begin a design competition on the 24th to create the 'Seoul Startup Hub Guro' at the site of the former Nambu Prison in Gocheok-dong, Guro-gu.
Seoul Startup Hub Guro will be developed on a site area of 3,452㎡ and a total floor area of 16,652㎡, including manufacturing and development spaces, tenant company spaces, and research support spaces. The facility is scheduled to be completed by July 2029.
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon is operating a machining center capable of metal processing at the Product Commercialization Support Center in the annex of Seoul Startup Hub, Mapo-gu, Seoul, on the 21st. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@
By introducing a microfactory (a compact factory capable of small-batch production) utilizing the latest technology, the hub will support the entire manufacturing startup cycle from idea discovery, design, and prototyping to initial mass production. Seoul Startup Hub Guro will be the fifth startup hub established following Gongdeok, Magok, Changdong, and Seongsu.
This design competition will be conducted in two stages to lower the participation barrier and minimize costs associated with the competition. Participants must submit all entries as digital panels in a 'digital competition.' Two rounds of technical reviews will be conducted to ensure the feasibility of the submitted designs, and the appropriateness and variability of construction costs will be thoroughly examined.
The final winning design will be selected after evaluating the advanced proposals from five teams chosen in the first stage during the second stage. The evaluation criteria include △understanding of microfactories and excellence of specialized plans △appropriateness of layout and circulation plans △validity of internal circulation, functional allocation, and zoning △feasibility of operational, visitor, and logistics circulation, among others.
The first stage evaluation will take place on April 10, with the announcement on April 14. The second stage evaluation will be held on June 9, and the final results will be published on June 13 on the Seoul design competition website. The city plans to livestream the evaluation process on YouTube and make it available after the event. Detailed information on the competition schedule, design guidelines, registration methods, and future plans can be found on the design competition website.
To enhance participants' understanding of the startup hub, the city will hold an on-site briefing session for the 'Seoul Startup Hub Guro Design Competition' on the 27th at the Seoul Yongsan Prototype Production Center. The briefing will include an overview of the competition and a facility tour.
Im Chang-su, Director of Future Space Planning at Seoul City, stated, "Seoul Startup Hub Guro will become a key base for revitalizing manufacturing startups. We expect that through active participation from domestic and international architects, creative designs will be incorporated, providing a foundation for entrepreneurs to fully exercise their discretion and grow into global companies."
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