The Seoul Center for Creative Economy and Innovation (CEO Lee Younggeun) announced that it will host the open innovation program '2025 2nd S.Stage' in collaboration with LG Chem, Korea P&G, Korea Evaluation Data, Hanjin Information & Communication, and Hyundai Transys. Following the successful conclusion of the '2025 1st S.Stage' in May, this second edition of the program aims to further expand cooperation between large corporations and startups and to advance the open innovation ecosystem.
The '2025 2nd S.Stage' will feature participation from five companies: LG Chem, Korea P&G, Korea Evaluation Data, Hanjin Information & Communication, and Hyundai Transys. Each company plans to identify promising startups that meet their core technology and service needs and to support subsequent collaboration.
The key technology areas each company is focusing on are as follows: LG Chem is seeking startups with innovative solutions in EV/battery, life healthcare, and high-performance specialty chemicals. Korea P&G is looking for startups in generative AI, e-commerce fulfillment, and smart data analytics. Korea Evaluation Data is recruiting startups with expertise in AI (machine learning), AI (generative AI), and big data technologies. Hanjin Information & Communication is searching for companies with technologies related to aviation, logistics/distribution, and business efficiency. Hyundai Transys is seeking startups with solutions in seat/drive components, materials/chemical technology, eco-friendly/ESG, and UAM/drone sectors.
Applications for this program will be accepted for four weeks from June 23, 2025 (Monday) to July 18, 2025 (Friday). Participating startups will have the opportunity to discuss potential collaboration with large companies through one-on-one meetups. Startups selected as finalists will be offered a Proof of Concept (PoC) opportunity, business development support funds of up to 5 million KRW from the Seoul Center for Creative Economy and Innovation and the Seoul Business Agency, the chance to move into an incubating center, consideration for investment through the Open Innovation Fund, and additional follow-up support such as technology protection consulting through the Foundation for Large, Small, and Medium Enterprises and Agriculture and Fisheries Cooperation.
Based on the experience and success stories accumulated from the previous program, this '2nd S.Stage' has been refined into a more concrete and actionable initiative. In particular, it has been designed to go beyond simple meetings and enable practical joint commercialization and investment connections. The program aims to establish a collaborative system based on trust between large corporations and startups, thereby realizing results-oriented open innovation.
Lee Younggeun, CEO of the Seoul Center for Creative Economy and Innovation, stated, "As a broker of open innovation, the Seoul Center for Creative Economy and Innovation excels at discovering startups optimized for the needs of large and mid-sized companies. Through this '2025 2nd S.Stage,' we aim to expand strategic matching between promising startups and partner companies, and to organically connect the entire process from discovery to business development support and investment attraction, thereby enhancing the quality and sustainability of collaboration."
Further details and application methods for the '2025 2nd S.Stage' can be found on the official Open Innovation website of the Seoul Center for Creative Economy and Innovation.
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