The Ministry of SMEs and Startups is joining hands with the four metropolitan cities of Daegu, Gwangju, Daejeon and Ulsan to build "startup cities" based on region-specific specialized industries. By linking institutes of science and technology with regional industrial infrastructure, the goal is to foster at least five cities within the top 100 of the global startup ecosystem rankings by 2030.
The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) on the 21st held the "Startup City Project Strategy Briefing" at the Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST) convention hall in Daegu with local governments, the four institutes of science and technology, and regional startup support agencies. It is a follow-up to the "Startup City Project" announced at the "National Startup Era Strategy Meeting" held in April.
Minister Han Seong-sook of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS), vice mayor-level officials from Daegu, Gwangju, Daejeon and Ulsan, representatives from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) and Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), and regional startup city task forces—about 80 people in total—attended the event.
The Startup City Project is a program that builds regional startup ecosystems by combining regional industry and technology strategies with the government's startup support policies. It focuses on linking talent development, commercialization, investment and infrastructure support, and on creating a structure in which universities, research institutes, corporations, and investment institutions cooperate with regional institutes of science and technology at the center.
At the briefing, each local government unveiled a startup city strategy tailored to regional characteristics. Daegu Metropolitan City set a goal of creating an advanced manufacturing artificial intelligence transformation (AX) city centered on artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics startups. Based on DGIST's research capabilities, it will pursue a strategy to build testbed foundations in robotics and mobility, medical and bio, and AI and software.
Daejeon Metropolitan City announced a strategy to create a deep-tech startup ecosystem in space and defense, AI and robotics, and bio, centered on KAIST and government-funded research institutes. It also presented a vision for a science and technology innovation city to nurture unicorn corporations based on innovative technologies.
Gwangju Metropolitan City, with the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) at the center, unveiled a strategy to foster future mobility, energy, and AI and semiconductors. It also plans to promote the establishment of a wide-area startup ecosystem by linking energy infrastructure such as the nearby Korea Institute of Energy Technology in Naju and Korea Electric Power Corporation.
Ulsan Metropolitan City announced a testbed-focused startup city strategy centered on manufacturing AI and future mobility, based on UNIST and the region's key industrial complexes. It will work to create an open testing environment where startup technologies can immediately lead to commercialization on the ground in the automobile, shipbuilding and petrochemical industries.
At the event, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was also signed between the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) and the four local governments. The institutions plan to cooperate on discovering and nurturing tech talent, attracting outstanding startup corporations, supporting technology development, commercialization and investment, and improving regional living conditions.
Minister Han Seong-sook of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) said, "Through the Startup City Project, we will build a self-sustaining startup ecosystem in which regions create their own growth engines and make an environment where it is easy to start a business anywhere in Korea."