Hoban Construction, KICT join forces to expand smart construction ecosystem

Hoban Construction is teaming up with the Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology to strengthen its smart construction competitiveness.

Hoban Construction announced Tuesday that it signed an MOU with the Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology on Monday at Hoban Park in Seocho-gu, Seoul, to promote mutual cooperation in smart construction technology.

The agreement aims to build an industry-academia-research collaboration framework, expand the innovation ecosystem in smart construction technology and support the commercialization of promising technologies.

Under the MOU, Hoban Construction will identify companies with smart construction technology and support open innovation and proof-of-concept programs tailored to each stage of their growth. The Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology will provide technology consulting and research and development cooperation for startup development, along with connections to its Smart Construction Support Center infrastructure.

Ahead of the signing, the two organizations co-hosted the "2026 Hoban Innovation Technology Competition" to build a system for identifying promising future technologies, and are accepting applications through the end of this month. They plan to jointly evaluate submissions to identify promising smart construction technologies and cooperate on proof-of-concept programs for selected companies.

The partnership also aims to raise the commercialization potential of innovative technologies in AI, robotics, new energy and digital transformation, with a view to deploying them at project sites across major Hoban Group affiliates, including Hoban Construction, Hoban Industries and Daehan Electric Wire.

The Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology is the country's only government-funded research institution dedicated to construction and land management. It has built specialized expertise in identifying and nurturing construction-sector startups through initiatives including the operation of its Smart Construction Support Center.

"This agreement is a meaningful starting point for expanding the innovation ecosystem in smart construction through industry-academia-research collaboration and supporting the commercialization of promising technologies," said Moon Gap, head of the management division at Hoban Construction. "Together with the Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology, we will actively identify innovative technologies to lead the future construction industry and strengthen our smart construction competitiveness through proof-of-concept programs and on-site application."

Kim Yong-ju, head of the construction industry promotion division at the Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology, said systematic growth support for promising startups is essential to spreading smart construction technology across project sites. "Drawing on our experience operating the Smart Construction Support Center, we will actively support technology consulting, proof-of-concept programs and pathways to commercialization," he added.

Meanwhile, the first-priority subscription round for "Hoban Summit Pungmu II," held June 2, drew 3,072 applicants for 533 units in the general supply — excluding the special supply — for an average competition ratio of 5.76 to 1. Hoban Construction has also been expanding its footprint in Greater Seoul redevelopment projects, having secured the "Myeonmok Station Line 6, Zones 3·4·5" block housing redevelopment project last month.