Chungnam CCEI Celebrates 10th Anniversary, Leading Regional Startup Ecosystem Growth

## Chungnam Center for Creative Economy & Innovation: A 10-Year Innovation Journey and a New Leap Forward On May 22, 2025, the Chungnam Center for Creative Economy & Innovation (hereinafter referred to as CCEI Chungnam) celebrated its meaningful 10th anniversary since its establishment. Since opening its doors in 2015, the center has played a pivotal role in vitalizing the local startup ecosystem and fostering innovative companies, and plans to host a 10th-anniversary celebration in September, in conjunction with the '5th Startup Conference'. Over the past 10 years, CCEI Chungnam has achieved remarkable results. It has discovered and nurtured a total of 2,108 startup companies, provided professional startup consulting and education to 31,492 individuals, becoming a reliable partner for local entrepreneurship. Notably, since 2022, it has intensified open innovation projects with large and medium-sized enterprises, currently collaborating with 17 companies and successfully completing 8 PoC (Proof of Concept) projects. Since 2023, it has directly invested in 13 companies and supported their TIPS selection, contributing to accelerating the growth of technology-based startups. In the investment sector, it has raised a total of 10.694 billion won through 4 funds, and executed direct investments totaling 6.42 billion won in 33 promising startups. Furthermore, by being selected as the operating agency for the Chungnam regional Mother Fund in 2024, it has established itself as a key pillar in vitalizing the local investment ecosystem. Support for global expansion is also a major achievement of the center. As the first among national Creative Economy Innovation Centers to be selected for an ODA project, it is currently building an eco-friendly electric bus charging infrastructure platform in Indonesia by 2027, and successfully hosted the 'K-Startup Tech Summit' based on this initiative. Through strategic cooperation with local European accelerators, it supports global accelerating programs and participation in overseas exhibitions, systematically assisting technology-based startups in entering overseas markets. The center has expanded spaces for startups, including its main office, Chungnam Startup Maru Navi, and Lycon Town, and strengthened its startup infrastructure and talent development foundation through achievements like receiving the highest evaluation for its Corporate Innovation Capacity Enhancement Program, operating a Makerspace, and being designated as an accredited institution by the Ministry of Education. Notably, in 2025, it was consecutively selected as an operating agency for specialized startup packages and global accelerating programs, and the 'New Business Startup Academy' achieved the remarkable feat of being selected as the top institution for two consecutive years, gaining external recognition for its expertise and capabilities. CCEI Chungnam has now declared a new vision, 'LOCAL TO GLOBAL', with three main strategies: establishing an advanced technology startup nurturing system based on innovative technologies, expanding a sustainable local startup ecosystem, and organizational innovation, to accelerate the construction of a technology-startup-centric innovation ecosystem. Center Director Kang Hee-jun stated his ambition, "Based on the achievements of the past 10 years, we will continue to grow together with the region for the next 10 years, strategically fostering startups in Chungnam's key and next-generation promising industries such as semiconductors, climate tech, and AI, to enhance Chungnam's global competitiveness." CCEI Chungnam will continue to play a more profound role as a central hub for regional economic innovation and startup vitalization.