Kolon Global accelerates open innovation with field tests of six external technologies

Kolon Global is significantly expanding its open innovation framework, which actively identifies external technologies and applies and validates them at real construction sites.

The company announced Tuesday that it will pursue field demonstrations and proof-of-concept tests for six external innovations this year through its open innovation program.

The collaboration is notable for combining the creative technologies of external technology firms with Kolon Global's accumulated on-site expertise and construction infrastructure. The company plans to extend its collaborative scope beyond smart construction into the green building sector, raising the likelihood of real-world application and laying the groundwork for eventual commercialization.

This year's demonstration projects consist of four under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's smart construction technology demonstration support program and two under Inno-wave, a deep-tech startup initiative run by the Korea Startup Agency.

Through the smart construction program, the company will work to improve quality management and operational efficiency at construction sites. It plans to conduct comprehensive field validation of four technologies: AI-based monitoring using intelligent cameras (Contilab), drone-based structural crack management (Seonggeon Engineering), earthwork automation using 3D excavators (Youngshin), and IoT-based hazardous gas monitoring (Piquant).

In the green building sector, Kolon Global will use the Inno-wave program to run parallel demonstration and commercialization reviews. Together with Zest, the company will validate an advanced renewable energy forecasting solution for zero-energy buildings, verifying improvements in energy efficiency and operational optimization. It will also work with Hexa Energy to assess the commercialization potential of a high-transparency building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) module made from new materials, broadening the application of eco-friendly construction technology.

Rather than stopping at technology review, the company intends to use real data collected during the demonstration process to incrementally improve technical completeness. Through this approach, it plans to expand deployment sites and build a virtuous cycle of open innovation leading to full-scale commercialization.

"To solve the wide range of challenges facing construction sites, it is essential not only to develop our own technological capabilities but also to flexibly embrace original and innovative ideas from outside," a Kolon Global official said. "We will continue to expand collaborative partnerships with technology companies, actively identify technologies with high on-site impact, and connect them to commercialization."

Meanwhile, Kolon Global posted consolidated sales of 750.5 billion won ($559 million), operating profit of 52.2 billion won and net profit for the period of 32.3 billion won in the second quarter of this year.