Daegu City and Daegu Technopark have finalized the selection of 13 companies as 2025 Star Companies, which are expected to lead the local economy and drive future industries. The certificate awarding ceremony was held at 4 p.m. on September 16, 2025, at Hotel Inter-Burgo Daegu.
This year’s selected companies include 2 Powerful Star Companies, 6 Star Companies, and 5 Pre-Star Companies. The final selection was made after a rigorous three-month evaluation process, which included a document review, presentation assessment, on-site evaluation, and comprehensive deliberation, out of a total of 50 applicant companies.
Notably, this year saw intense competition with a ratio of 3.17 to 1 for Star Companies and 5.8 to 1 for Pre-Star Companies, reflecting an unprecedented level of enthusiasm and interest among promising local small and medium-sized enterprises.
The selected companies are closely aligned with the five major future industries that Daegu City is focusing on and have been recognized for their significant potential to contribute to the regional economy through sales growth, job creation, and technological competitiveness.
The Powerful Star Companies selected are CIS Co., Ltd. and ISU Petasys Co., Ltd. As of 2024, these two companies have an average sales revenue of 613.6 billion won and employ 850 people, and they are planning a total regional investment of 150.9 billion won by 2027.
In particular, CIS Co., Ltd. is a notable example of a company that, after being selected as a Star Company, successfully achieved an initial public offering (IPO) and grew into a mid-sized enterprise, serving as a model for the success of the Star Company support program.
Additionally, ISU Petasys Co., Ltd. currently holds the highest market capitalization among listed companies in the Daegu region. The company is expected to have a significant ripple effect on the local economy through co-growth and job expansion driven by the expanding high-performance AI market.
The six companies selected as 2025 Star Companies are Daekyung Robotec Co., Ltd., Rexco Co., Ltd., Vision Science Co., Ltd., UND Co., Ltd., Highpark Co., Ltd., and Korea Park Golf Co., Ltd. As of 2024, these companies have an average sales revenue of 23 billion won and an average of 79 employees, and are recognized as strong local small giants with both technological foundations and growth potential.
The five companies chosen as Pre-Star Companies are Kwangjin Metal Co., Ltd., Maruel & C Co., Ltd., Miracle Solution Co., Ltd., Azontech Co., Ltd., and Its Sensor Co., Ltd. These companies have an average sales revenue of 5.3 billion won and an average of 18 employees, and they are set to be nurtured as next-generation promising companies to lead Daegu’s future industries.
Starting this year, Daegu City has completely revamped its business support system to provide customized support according to the stage of growth and innovation capacity, offering tailored assistance under the categories of 'Innovation Promotion', 'Competitiveness Enhancement', and 'Market Entry'.
In addition, the city has introduced a 'hybrid advisory system' that combines the strengths of the existing Project Manager (PM) and Specialized Committeeman (SC) systems. Under this system, a panel of experts will directly diagnose companies’ challenges and, when necessary, provide 'one-point rapid support' to facilitate swift problem-solving.
Hong Sungjoo, Deputy Mayor for Economic Affairs of Daegu City, stated, "The 13 companies selected as Star Companies this year are innovative businesses with the potential to redefine Daegu’s industrial landscape. We will continue to provide comprehensive support, including technology development, investment attraction, and overseas expansion, so that these companies can grow into leading firms that drive local employment and the economy."
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