Kakao and the Jeju Center for Creative Economy & Innovation said on the 23rd they are recruiting corporations to participate in the open innovation program "2026 JCCEI x Kakao Open Ground" to discover outstanding startups and pursue joint growth.
"2026 JCCEI x Kakao Open Ground" is an open innovation program co-planned with Kakao, the Jeju Center's dedicated large corporation, and is characterized by providing practical collaboration opportunities such as technology verification (PoC) and commercialization cooperation by discovering promising startups that can be linked to Kakao and Kakao Group companies' business areas.
A total of four group companies—Kakao, Kakao Mobility, Kakao Entertainment, and Kakao Enterprise—will participate in this program, and about 10 startups linked to each corporation's business domain will be selected.
Recruitment areas include ◇ AI and big data ◇ eco-friendly technology ◇ mobility and Autonomous Driving ◇ Internet of Things (IoT) ◇ digital platforms ◇ content ◇ industry-specific software as a service (SaaS), and deep-tech and innovative-technology startups that can be technically linked with Kakao Group's services and platforms are eligible to apply.
Kakao will solicit proposals for collaboration ideas related to a verification project to advance autonomous optimization of an AI-based data center cooling system that can be linked to the Kakao data center, the development of high-functionality beauty products using agricultural by-products together with Kakao Makers, and the development of upcycled goods and household items using recycled waste resources.
Kakao Mobility presented collaboration ideas and solutions to address mobility-related issues in the Jeju region as a key task, and it will also recruit collaboration ideas that can enhance the usability of the global service "k.ride."
Kakao Entertainment will solicit technology-based innovative ideas that can be linked to its main business areas such as story, music, and fandom.
Kakao Enterprise will solicit proposals for autonomous technology-collaboration projects that design Kakao Cloud-based AI platforms and industry-specific SaaS service models and carry out technology verification (PoC), as well as collaboration ideas to expand technology and services premised on linking platform as a service (PaaS)/SaaS based on Kakao Cloud and conducting joint verification.
Selected startups will derive specific collaboration projects through business meetings with Kakao and Kakao Group companies, and will then be provided opportunities to verify commercialization potential and apply services through technology verification (PoC) projects.
The Jeju Center plans to build a cooperation model between Kakao Group and startups through this program and contribute to creating an open innovation ecosystem that connects the platform and business capabilities of large corporations with the innovative technologies of startups.
Detailed information on recruiting corporations for "JCCEI x Kakao Open Ground" participation can be found on the official website of the Jeju Center for Creative Economy & Innovation and the program information page. The program will run from Mar. 2026 to Dec. 2026, and detailed schedules and operating methods will be guided separately to the final selected teams.
A Kakao official said, "This program aims to build a practical springboard for commercialization and grow together with outstanding startups that possess game-changing technologies," adding, "We expect the innovative capabilities of startups to combine with the demand-side projects of Kakao Group companies to create synergy."
Lee Byung-seon, CEO of the Jeju Center, said, "This program is meaningful in that it built an open innovation model by expanding cooperation to Kakao Group companies with Kakao, the Jeju Center's dedicated large corporation, at the core," adding, "We hope it becomes an opportunity for startups with game-changing technologies in various fields to achieve tangible commercialization outcomes."