Net Zero Challenge X expands to 40 member institutions with addition of oceans ministry, weather agency, Seoul National University

The government is expanding participation in Net Zero Challenge X, a national project to discover and nurture climate tech startups.

The Presidential Commission on Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth said Tuesday it will hold a signing ceremony for new member institutions of Net Zero Challenge X at its Seoul office.

Now in its second year, Net Zero Challenge X identifies and develops startups with innovative technologies in greenhouse gas reduction and climate crisis adaptation. It provides integrated support covering incubation, investment, regulatory exemptions, public procurement, preferential loans and guarantees, and technology demonstration.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the Korea Institute of Marine Science and Technology Promotion, the Korea Meteorological Administration, the Korea Meteorological Industry Technology Agency, Seoul National University and the Korea Water Resources Corporation joined as new members under the agreement.

The addition brings the total number of participating institutions in Net Zero Challenge X to 40.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Korea Institute of Marine Science and Technology Promotion will run startup and investment support programs for prospective founders and early-stage companies in the marine new industries sector, and will provide access to technology demonstration infrastructure.

The Korea Meteorological Administration and the Korea Meteorological Industry Technology Agency will offer startups in the weather and climate sector workspace, commercialization support and investment attraction programs.

Seoul National University plans to host a climate tech startup competition and provide technology consulting and investor networking opportunities.

The Korea Water Resources Corporation will link its startup incubation programs in the water industry with K-Testbed, a public infrastructure-based technology demonstration project.

Lee Chang-hoon, chairman of the Presidential Commission on Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth, said Net Zero Challenge X is "a leading platform that supports the growth of innovative climate tech companies through public-private cooperation." He added that he expects the agreement to further expand the support ecosystem for climate tech startups.

The commission plans to strengthen its support base across the five major climate tech sectors — clean tech, carbon tech, eco tech, food tech and geo tech — and broaden its public-private cooperation framework going forward.