On July 2, the Public Procurement Service announced that it has selected eight research and development projects aimed at improving the living environment of citizens and innovating public services, providing 6.6 billion KRW in support over two years.
The research and development program was introduced in 2023 to develop innovative products that solve public issues and to quickly apply them in the field.
This year, six "pilot purchase-linked projects" for developing innovative products proposed by citizens and public institutions, and two "scale-up projects" for enhancing the performance and technology of existing innovative products, were each selected through open calls and expert evaluations.
The pilot purchase-linked R&D projects focus on creating innovative solutions that apply advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics to fields closely related to citizens' daily lives, including disaster response, public safety, and healthcare.
These projects include AI smart glasses for fire commanders to enhance response capabilities at fire scenes, autonomous snow removal robots for alleyways and rural roads, and a precision infectious disease management platform for women of childbearing age at small medical institutions.
The scale-up R&D projects selected include a self-diagnosis emergency bell that can quickly respond to illegal filming or fainting incidents in public restrooms and other locations, as well as an underwater robot for environmental protection that removes underwater pollutants such as algal blooms.
The Public Procurement Service plans to provide specialized consulting to ensure that the outcomes of these R&D projects can quickly enter the procurement market. In addition, if the outcomes are designated as innovative products, they will be linked to pilot purchase programs to provide opportunities for demonstration in various domestic and international administrative settings.
Kang Heehoon, Director of New Growth Procurement Planning, stated, "This R&D program focuses on ensuring that innovative technologies such as AI, autonomous driving, and robotics can be directly utilized to resolve everyday inconveniences and public issues. The Public Procurement Service will continue to strengthen the connection between public demand-based R&D and entry into the procurement market, leading the way in commercializing government R&D outcomes through public procurement."
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