Mercedes-Benz Korea (Benz Korea) said on the 10th that it will verify technologies needed for future mobility, including Autonomous Driving and electrification, as well as overall operations of corporations, in partnership with four domestic startups.
The startups that will carry out a 100-day proof of concept (PoC) with Benz Korea were finally selected at "Startup Autobahn Korea 2026," held at Seoul Square in Jung-gu, Seoul, on the 9th.
The corporations finally selected this year are four in total: Cogcom, Wonderslab, NanoMiracle, and Bwright.
This year, to focus on projects that can lead to tangible research and development outcomes, the collaboration areas were run with a focus on cognitive capability (AI), and three of the four selected projects consist of AI-based technologies.
The collaboration tasks by corporation are: AI-based vehicle test issue management by Cogcom; AI-based work knowledge management by Wonderslab; AI-based Autonomous Driving verification route generation by NanoMiracle; and an 800V electric vehicle wireless charging system by Bwright.
The scope of collaboration will be expanded beyond work efficiency using AI to vehicle development and verification, Autonomous Driving, and next-generation electric vehicle charging technology to verify the applicability of the technologies on the automotive industry floor.
The four startups will conduct step-by-step technology verification through December and, based on the final results, review the potential for actual business application, additional technology development, and follow-up collaboration.
Shirin Emira, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Korea, said, "The goal is not just to discover promising technologies, but to prove their potential in Mercedes-Benz's business and mobility environment, leading to tangible outcomes and ongoing collaboration."
Startup Autobahn is a global open innovation platform launched by the Mercedes-Benz Group headquarters in 2016. It was first introduced in Korea in 2020 and marks its seventh year this year.
Benz Korea has so far provided technology verification, commercialization, and global collaboration opportunities to 58 promising domestic startups.