28 New Partner Companies Selected for 2026 Defense Venture Center
Number of Partner Companies Expands to 72 Just 1 Year and 3 Months After Opening
Comprehensive Support Including Development Funding and Defense Network Linkage
Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province (Governor Kim Jin-tae) announced on March 4 that it has selected 28 local small and venture companies aspiring to enter the defense industry as the "2026 Gangwon Defense Venture Center New Partner Companies."
There was strong interest in the "2026 Partner Company Recruitment Announcement," which closed on January 23, with 35 companies applying. The province conducted on-site evaluations and review committee deliberations before finally selecting 28 companies.
As a result, the total number of partner companies at the Gangwon Defense Venture Center has expanded to 72, just 1 year and 3 months after its establishment.
The newly selected companies are recognized for possessing advanced technologies such as defense semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI), and GOP border security systems.
In particular, three companies relocated their research institutes from the Seoul metropolitan area to Gangwon Province to gain advantages in the partnership agreement, demonstrating that the partner company system is also effective in attracting companies to the region.
To actively support partner companies’ entry into and commercialization in the defense industry, the province increased this year’s related budget by 70% compared to the previous year (from 500 million won to 830 million won).
Based on this, the province plans to systematically implement a core support package necessary for entering the defense sector, including: △support for defense product and technology development costs, △support for company promotion and marketing, and △linking companies to defense experts and military networks.
Additionally, partner companies will receive opportunities to participate in the Defense Acquisition Program Administration’s Defense Venture Support Project (up to 500 million won over two years), as well as incentives such as matching with government R&D projects and additional points in various public project applications, further facilitating their entry into the defense sector.
Established in December 2024, the Gangwon Defense Venture Center operates as a specialized defense support agency under the Agency for Defense Development, and was founded to systematically support the entry of local small and venture companies into the defense industry.
The center is enhancing a stage-by-stage support system-ranging from partner company recruitment, technology development support, military network linkage, to achievement creation-thereby advancing the regional defense industry support ecosystem.
Kim Man-ho, Director of Economic Affairs for Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, stated, "Last year, the top 20 partner companies at the Defense Venture Center achieved a 35% increase in sales compared to before the partnership, demonstrating meaningful results. We will provide active support so that more local companies can enter the defense market and grow into competitive small giants through the Defense Venture Center."
Meanwhile, the province will hold the "2026 Gangwon Defense Venture Center New Partner Company Agreement Ceremony" on March 9 at the 60th Anniversary Memorial Hall of Kangwon National University, presided over by Vice Governor for Economic Affairs Kim Gwangrae.
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