The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) said on the 16th it held the 2025 public-private open innovation performance sharing event at WDZ in Seoul and selected and awarded outstanding startups in the integrated competition finals and their collaborating large corporations.
Public-private open innovation is a support system designed to drive joint growth through collaboration among innovative startups, large and mid-sized corporations, and public institutions. This year, among 120 participating companies, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) awarded the Minister's Prize and prize money to nine startups that delivered strong results in areas such as new product and service development and adoption.
Artificial intelligence (AI) startup Amberoad carried out EcoPro's proposed project, "AI-based optimization of secondary battery manufacturing processes," together. In the pilot process, it developed process efficiencies that can generate about 5.5 billion won in annual financial effects. EcoPro is reviewing broader application to additional processes within the group.
Food startup F&L Corporation developed a high-protein, low-carb shake through collaboration with CJ ENM. CJ ENM provided marketing and sales infrastructure to open sales channels and also invested 3 billion won directly. F&L Corporation plans to pursue overseas expansion.
FOBECON, a startup with visual AI technology, jointly developed an AI-based construction cost estimation efficiency platform based on WOOMI Construction Co.'s architectural design know-how. NongHyup Bank and Switchwon, which jointly carried out the "AI exchange rate prediction algorithm development" project, and the Korea Water Resources Corporation (K-water) and Geost, which collaborated to build an AIoT ground stability monitoring system—a convergence technology that develops and embeds intelligence suited to the characteristics of objects for practical use—produced collaboration results across multiple fields.
In addition to prize money and certificates, award-winning startups will be given recommendations for the Next Unicorn Project scale-up fund investor pool and incentives when participating in follow-up market validation support projects under open innovation.
First Vice Minister Noh Yong-seok said, "Open innovation is a core strategy that generates tangible effects such as boosting corporate productivity, entering new markets, and improving the efficiency of technology development," adding, "We will actively invigorate open innovation with startups so that the innovation DNA of ventures and startups spreads across corporations and our corporations can grow together."