The Research and Development Special Zone Promotion Foundation announced on July 16 that it is recruiting companies to participate in the "2025 Special Zone Deep Tech Startup Challenge" (hereinafter referred to as the Deep Tech Challenge) until August 22.
The Deep Tech Challenge was designed to discover promising deep tech companies with advanced core technologies and to promote the achievement of technology commercialization outcomes.
This challenge is distinguished from existing technology commercialization support programs in that it goes beyond a simple competition format and, for the first time, introduces a commercialization support structure that provides direct investment and connects companies selected for the challenge with follow-up research and development (R&D) projects.
Companies eligible to participate in the Deep Tech Challenge include those pursuing business in the deep tech sector that fall under the special zone system, such as research institute spin-offs, advanced technology companies, and regulatory sandbox companies (Track A), as well as companies established within seven years based on technologies from public research institutes or science and technology-focused universities located in the special zone (Track B).
The foundation plans to select a total of six companies for the Deep Tech Challenge?three companies from each track?through a process that includes document review, interviews, Pre-IR, and Final IR stages.
The final selected companies will receive the Minister of Science and ICT Award and the Chairman of the Foundation Award, along with a total prize of 18 million KRW.
In particular, through the Research and Development Special Zone Fund, each company may receive direct investment of up to 1 billion KRW, and companies that secure investment may also be eligible for follow-up R&D projects worth up to 600 million KRW.
Companies wishing to participate in the Deep Tech Challenge must complete and submit the required application forms by 6:00 p.m. on August 22. Further details can be found in the program announcement posted on the foundation's website.
Jung Heekwon, Chairman of the Foundation, stated, "Systematic early-stage support is paramount for deep tech startups to grow," adding, "The foundation will continue to discover promising deep tech startups with strong growth momentum and provide comprehensive support to help them enter the market and scale up."
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