Foundation expands global commercialization support for deep tech firms

Deep tech companies in South Korea's research and development special zones are accelerating overseas proof-of-concept trials and global commercialization through partnerships with large corporations.

The Korea Research Development Special Zone Foundation held the 2026 Global Value-Up Camp on Thursday, creating open innovation collaboration opportunities with domestic and foreign conglomerates to expand global proof-of-concept, or PoC, activities for deep tech firms in the special zones.

The event was part of the foundation's "Collaboration Hub-Based Global PoC Support Project," designed to help special zone companies assess the feasibility of technology application and commercialization with major domestic and foreign firms before conducting overseas field trials, and to build the verification experience needed for global PoC expansion and market entry.

About 100 people attended, including representatives from 43 special zone companies participating in the global PoC support project, 18 domestic and foreign large corporations and 11 investment institutions joining for open innovation collaboration.

Corporate participants included Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Samsung Biologics, Samsung SDS, Oracle, The Walt Disney Company, Kakao Mobility, Posco International, Hanwha Systems, Hyundai E&C, LG Group's AI Research Institute and SK Innovation. Investment institutions included Ecopro Partners, T Investment and Hyundai Motor Securities.

The program featured PoC case presentations by large corporations and special zone companies, introductions from corporate and investment participants, technology and product and service presentations by special zone firms along with their PoC plans, and open innovation networking sessions.

Kwon Oh-seok, executive director at Ecopro Partners, shared the company's open innovation initiatives, startup collaboration experience and successful PoC cases. He outlined the criteria companies use when selecting partners and the key factors in evaluating technology and business viability, helping special zone firms understand what preparation is needed before entering a collaboration.

Ko Young-wook, chief executive of EM Coretech, shared his experience and results from conducting PoC projects with global companies, covering the process of building domestic references, cases of overseas expansion, and the challenges encountered — and overcome — during PoC implementation.

Each program session was structured to help special zone companies assess the applicability of their technology and clarify commercialization directions from the perspective of major domestic and foreign firms, and to sharpen their global PoC strategies ahead of overseas field trials.

Large corporations and investment institutions reviewed the potential for technology application, joint commercialization and investment linkages based on individual company presentations, and discussed directions for follow-up collaboration.

After the event, the foundation plans to survey participating corporations and investment institutions on their collaboration needs and arrange one-on-one follow-up meetings for those that express mutual interest. It will continue to provide support to translate those connections into tangible outcomes such as PoC implementation, investment attraction and business partnerships.

"For deep tech from the special zones to reach global markets, companies need verification and collaboration experience in real industrial settings at home and abroad," foundation President Jeong Hee-kwon said. "The foundation will expand the verification experience of special zone companies through partnerships with large domestic and foreign corporations, and support a growth path that extends into overseas field trials and global commercialization."