Daegu Center Launches Joint Projects with 19 Large, Mid-Sized, and Public Enterprises and Startups

The Daegu Creative Economy Innovation Center (DCCEI) will fully launch its 2025 public-private partnership open innovation support program, 'Autonomous Proposal Type,' and embark on innovative collaboration projects between 19 leading demand companies and promising startups. This program, overseen by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and managed by the Korea Institute of Startup & Entrepreneurship Development (KISED), focuses on vitalizing the open innovation ecosystem and fostering the growth of startups through the discovery of new businesses. In particular, the 'Autonomous Proposal Type' operated by DCCEI is a method that supports projects by outstanding startups discovered by demand companies through their own collaboration programs. Among the participating demand companies, 10 major corporations and mid-sized enterprises such as CJ ENM, DB Insurance, Shinhan Financial Group, Pulmuone, and Korea Electric Power Corporation will participate as 'Private Linkage Type' partners, while 7 companies including SK ecoplant, Doosan Enerbility, and Korea Aerospace Industries will collaborate as 'Cluster Linkage Type' partners. This year, two companies, Samick THK and Incheon Port Authority, have joined the newly established 'Free Economic Zone Linkage Type,' bringing the total to 19 companies fostering win-win growth with startups. Selected startups will receive 100 million won in commercialization support, along with specialized programs from DCCEI, such as R&D capability enhancement consulting and customized support, laying the groundwork for successful collaboration, validation, and growth. On the 28th, DCCEI hosted an 'Open Innovation Academy' for technology protection support, sharing excellent open innovation cases, and networking, strengthening startups' commitment to collaboration and enhancing their understanding. A case presentation by Kim Jin-hyung, CEO of Krabl Co., Ltd., the grand prize winner of last year's integrated competition, received a great response. As the only public-private partnership open innovation support program organizer outside the Seoul metropolitan area, DCCEI promised unwavering support as an innovation broker to enable demand companies and startups to achieve co-growth through continuous close relationships. Han In-guk, CEO of DCCEI, expressed his ambition, stating that in addition to efforts to discover promising startups, they would establish an optimal support system to overcome difficulties in the collaboration process and advance projects, thereby generating excellent results.