SK Innovation has selected 10 youth startup teams to develop AI-based solutions addressing energy and social challenges and will support their growth.
SK Innovation said Wednesday it held a kickoff and boot camp for the final selected teams of its "AI Impact Solution" program Tuesday at SK Seorin Building in Jongno-gu, Seoul.
The AI Impact Solution program identifies and nurtures startup teams with solutions that use AI to tackle energy and social problems. SK Innovation hosts and sponsors the program, with the Qunesty Foundation serving as the organizing body and the Community Chest of Korea providing support. Applications were accepted from May 11 through June 12, and 10 teams were chosen following review by experts across relevant fields.
The selected teams proposed AI solutions targeting energy challenges — including improving energy efficiency at AI data centers and reducing carbon emissions — as well as social issues spanning care services, safety, the environment, mobility and education. Ideas with strong real-world applicability included improving inefficiencies in used battery recycling processes, reducing heat and noise at data centers, analyzing data for early diagnosis of rare cancers, and generating real-time digital sign language.
During the boot camp, teams worked on establishing proof-of-concept (PoC) execution plans and refining their commercialization strategies for the four-month program ahead. Participants attended special lectures on AI, technology and business, as well as team-by-team solution pitching sessions to review their business design directions. Each team also presented its problem definition, development roadmap and PoC plan, then exchanged feedback to validate commercialization potential.
Each team will receive one-on-one mentoring from experts in AI and technology, business and social impact through October. On the AI and technology side, leading domestic academics in fields such as physical cognitive AI and multimodal AI will serve as mentors, joined by members of SK Innovation's AX unit with professional backgrounds in AI. Each team will then present its proof-of-concept results at "Demo Day," a showcase event scheduled for November. SK Innovation will select the top three teams and provide follow-up support, including further business development and connections to impact investment.
SK Innovation Executive Vice President Kang Chung-sik said the company would "actively support the participating teams so that their technologies can be validated in real-world settings and translated into social value."
keg@heraldcorp.com
