Samsung Electronics seeks AI, robotics startups for C-Lab Outside 9th cohort

Samsung Electronics announced Monday it is accepting open applications for the 9th cohort of its C-Lab Outside program, aimed at discovering startups with strong growth potential and differentiated capabilities.

The company will select 30 startups across eight fields: AI, digital health, content and services, robotics, materials and components, IoT, mobility and ESG. The application window runs Monday through June 26.

Recruitment for the 9th cohort is being conducted simultaneously across four regions — Seoul, Daegu, North Gyeongsang Province and Gwangju. Startups incorporated in South Korea that have raised funding at the Series B stage or below are eligible to apply.

Applications are available through the Samsung Electronics C-Lab website. Final selections will be announced in November following a review process.

C-Lab Outside is an open innovation program designed to help domestic startups build closer ties with Samsung Electronics and explore new business collaboration opportunities.

When a selected startup shows potential for business linkage, Samsung Electronics arranges business meetings and proof-of-concept projects with the relevant business divisions to explore concrete collaboration.

The number of startups conducting proof-of-concept projects with Samsung Electronics has been growing. Last year, 17 of the 30 startups in the 7th cohort — more than half — explored collaboration possibilities through proof-of-concept work with Samsung. The 8th cohort, selected this year, is also currently engaged in proof-of-concept projects.

Config Intelligence, selected for the 8th cohort, specializes in building and synthesizing physical AI data for developing robot foundation models. The company is working with Samsung Electronics to secure data used in physical AI development.

"As physical AI technology advances, the importance of large-scale, high-quality data to support it grows as well," said Seo Min-jun, CEO of Config Intelligence. "Through C-Lab Outside, we were able to collaborate with Samsung Electronics, gain hands-on experience building data required in actual industrial settings, and broaden the potential applications of our technology."

Samsung Electronics also runs support programs to help selected startups strengthen their technology and business capabilities and expand into global markets.

The company provides consulting programs drawing on the expertise of Samsung employees and internal teams to help startups tackle a range of challenges they encounter during growth — including technology, product development, organizational management and marketing.

Samsung also supports participation in major global exhibitions such as CES, the world's largest consumer electronics show, and VivaTech, Europe's largest startup expo, giving startups opportunities to meet overseas customers, investors and partners.

Additional benefits include up to 100 million won ($65,800) in project funding with no equity taken, dedicated workspace, and free transfer or licensing of Samsung Electronics-held patents.

"Opportunities to validate and scale technology are just as important to startups as the technology itself," said Lee Byung-chul, vice president and head of Samsung Electronics' Creative Development Center. "Through C-Lab Outside, Samsung Electronics will continue to support promising domestic startups as they explore diverse collaboration opportunities and expand into larger markets."

Since 2012, Samsung has nurtured a total of 1,000 startups through the C-Lab program — 434 through its in-house venture track and 566 through the external startup program.

Since launching C-Lab Inside, its in-house venture development program, Samsung Electronics has cultivated a creative organizational culture where employees can freely propose ideas and take on new challenges. From 2015, the company began supporting spinoffs of top in-house venture projects, laying the groundwork for employee-led startup creation.

In 2018, Samsung drew on the experience and know-how accumulated through its in-house venture program to launch C-Lab Outside, the external startup development program, to support the growth of promising domestic startups.

Since 2023, Samsung has expanded C-Lab Outside to Daegu, Gwangju and North Gyeongsang Province to broaden the startup ecosystem in those regions. Through these regional hubs, the company has so far discovered and nurtured 52 startups, supporting the growth of locally rooted innovative companies.

Alongside this, Samsung operates the "C-Lab Family" network — comprising C-Lab Outside graduates and spinoff companies — to provide a range of opportunities including investment and business collaboration.

Since 2016, Samsung Electronics has operated a C-Lab exhibition space at Eureka Park, the startup pavilion at CES, to help its portfolio companies reach a global stage. At CES 2026, C-Lab startups won a total of 17 innovation awards, including two Best of Innovation honors, drawing wide attention in the global market.