Take On CES 2026 with Gwanak S Valley!

Recruitment of Venture Startups to Challenge for CES 2026 Innovation Awards and Participate in Gwanak S Valley Pavilion Until the 19th
Five Finalists and Five Reserve Companies to Be Selected by End of May
Support Includes Innovation Award Consulting and Application Fee Assistance

Gwanak District, led by Mayor Park Junhee, which has emerged as a global hub for venture startups, is recruiting companies to participate in the Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2026) to be held in Las Vegas, United States.

CES 2026, which will take place for four days starting January 6, 2026, is one of the world’s top three electronics and information and communications technology (ICT) exhibitions, hosted by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA).

This marks the third consecutive year that the district is participating in CES. In cooperation with the Seoul Business Agency (SBA), the district plans to set up the “Gwanak S Valley Pavilion” within the Seoul Pavilion and operate five exhibition booths.

This year, the district will significantly expand its support for companies participating in CES. Companies selected through this recruitment will receive tailored support, including exhibition booths, CES Innovation Award consulting, support for Innovation Award application fees, business matching and exhibition marketing training, and one-on-one on-site interpretation, helping them build the capabilities needed for a successful CES debut.

Companies ultimately participating in the Gwanak S Valley Pavilion will be provided with an airfare and accommodation voucher worth 5 million won. In particular, companies that win two or more Innovation Awards will receive an additional 1 million won for each award beyond the first.

Eligible applicants are venture startups with headquarters, branches, or research centers located in Gwanak District and have been established for less than seven years, possessing advanced technologies in fields such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and healthcare. Companies planning to relocate to Gwanak District by October of this year are also eligible to apply.

Companies wishing to participate in CES 2026 with Gwanak District must submit their application documents via email by the 19th. The district will evaluate company capabilities and product excellence, selecting five companies and five reserve candidates by the end of May, and will finalize the five companies to participate in CES by November.

Detailed information regarding the recruitment of CES 2026 participants can be found on the Gwanak District Office website (News & Announcements → Notices → Official Announcements).

The district participated in CES 2024 and CES 2025 for two consecutive years. At CES, Mayor Park presented his vision, highlighting new possibilities for Gwanak S Valley as a “global startup innovation hub.” Participating companies have established footholds for overseas expansion and investment attraction through IR events and have continuously demonstrated the global competitiveness of Gwanak S Valley by winning CES Innovation Awards each year.

Mayor Park Junhee stated, “We hope to see great interest and participation from startups eager to showcase their innovative products and outstanding technologies on the global stage. We will spare no effort to support excellent venture startups so that they can lay the foundation for overseas expansion through a successful CES 2026 and grow into global unicorns.”