KT said on the 20th that it has selected 16 artificial intelligence (AI) startups to join its open innovation program "K-PATH 2026" and will begin co-developing businesses.
A total of 193 corporations applied for this call. KT conducted document and presentation reviews based on technological competitiveness, applicability in industrial sites, business potential, and collaboration effects. The seven selection categories were enterprise AI and agents, physical AI and Robotics, AI training data, trust and security, infrastructure and models, industry-specific AI, and AI ESG.
The selected corporations include ScionicAI, which develops a Generative AI platform, as well as Algorithm Labs, Sky Intelligence, Private AI, TEN, and CflatAI.
KT will connect these corporations with its internal business units to drive customer projects. Plans under review include validating ontology-based data analytics technology and co-developing AI digital twins for public safety, smart factories, and AI kiosks for older adults.
Starting in September, the company will identify short-term collaboration tasks that can quickly demonstrate results and link them beyond technology proof-of-concept to customer proposals and project wins. Businesses with confirmed results will expand into mid- to long-term partnerships. KT plans to unveil key collaboration results and commercialization cases at the K-PATH event on Oct. 20.