Kumoh National Institute of Technology Hosts "2026 Gyeongbuk Gumi Small Giant R&D Special Zone Tech Fair"

Kumoh National Institute of Technology's Small Giant Special Zone Project Group Draws Attention for "Gumi Small Giant Special Zone Corporate Support Achievements"
Selected as Top-Performing Small Giant Research and Development Special Zone for Two Consecutive Years in Annual Evaluation by the Ministry of Science and ICT
Establishment of 11 Research-Based Companies and 10 Billion Won in Corporate Investment Attraction

The Kumoh National Institute of Technology (Acting President Kim Jongbok), the core technology institution of the Gumi Small Giant Research and Development Special Zone in Gyeongbuk, hosted the "2026 Gyeongbuk Gumi Small Giant Research and Development Special Zone Tech Fair."

The Tech Fair, held at GumiCo over two days starting January 14, was organized to share the achievements of the first phase of the Gumi Small Giant Research and Development Special Zone project and to announce the direction for the confirmed second phase.

The opening ceremony on January 14 was attended by Kwon Ohhyung, Head of the Small Giant Special Zone Development Project Group at Kumoh National Institute of Technology (who also serves as Director of the Industry-Academia Cooperation Group), Jeong Seonghyeon, Deputy Mayor of Gumi City, as well as representatives from the Research and Development Special Zone Promotion Foundation under the Ministry of Science and ICT, local governments and related organizations, and beneficiary companies of the Small Giant Special Zone Development Project. They reaffirmed their commitment to cooperation among industry, academia, research, and government in preparation for the full-scale launch of the second phase.

Kwon Ohhyung, Head of the Small Giant Special Zone Development Project Group at Kumoh National Institute of Technology, is sharing the achievements of the first phase of the Gumi Small Giant Research and Development Special Zone project in Gyeongbuk (March 2021 to February 2026) and announcing the direction for the confirmed second phase project (March 2026 to February 2031). Photo by Kim Eehwan

In addition, a variety of programs received a strong response, including: ▲ operation of 42 corporate exhibition booths ▲ plaque awards for 11 research-based companies ▲ Tech-Challenge Startup Competition ▲ corporate open innovation activation seminar ▲ generative AI competency enhancement program for corporate practitioners ▲ special lectures (YouTube Park Gomhee TV, finance creator Park Dongho) ▲ an international student talk concert for RISE project local settlement activation, and more.

Since being designated as the core technology institution of the Gumi Small Giant Research and Development Special Zone in Gyeongbuk in 2020, Kumoh National Institute of Technology has promoted various business support initiatives to vitalize the local technology startup culture and establish an innovative manufacturing ecosystem.

As a result, in 2025 alone, the institute achieved the following: ▲ establishment of 11 research-based companies (a cumulative total of 54) ▲ 35 cases of technology transfer and equity investment (a cumulative total of 204) ▲ establishment of 16 new technology startups (a cumulative total of 70), and generated approximately 10 billion won (a cumulative total of about 35 billion won) in corporate investment attraction.

Based on these first-phase achievements, Kumoh National Institute of Technology was selected as the top-performing Small Giant Research and Development Special Zone for two consecutive years through the comprehensive evaluation by the Ministry of Science and ICT. Recognized for the feasibility of further specialized development support, the institute will receive additional national funding for the next five years to embark on the second phase of the project.

In the second phase, the plan is to promote the industrialization of technology through the development of deep-tech industries, focusing on core ICT-based smart manufacturing system technologies in the fields of robotics, defense, semiconductors, and virtual convergence. In particular, immediate connection to on-site corporate needs is expected to facilitate commercialization and expand global achievements.

Kwon Ohhyung, Head of the Small Giant Special Zone Development Project Group at Kumoh National Institute of Technology, stated, "Based on the achievements and local network built during the first phase, the support capabilities of local governments and partner organizations, combined with Kumoh National Institute of Technology's technological expertise, are further advancing Gumi Small Giant Special Zone's unique technology industrialization support system. Through this Tech Fair, we will more precisely connect various corporate needs with the second phase of the project, building a regional innovation ecosystem where technology transfer, investment, and commercialization form a virtuous cycle."