Deep tech startups from 5 science universities compete for up to W3b in investment

Deep tech startups born from research at five of South Korea's leading science and technology universities have been given a stage to prove their worth.

The Research and Development Special Zone Foundation held the final round of the 2026 R&D Special Zone Science University Technology Startup Investment Competition at the Daejeon Convention Center on Wednesday, evaluating six promising deep tech companies across 12 national strategic technology sectors.

Now in its third year, the competition aims to identify deep tech companies built on university research and connect them with investment and industry.

The foundation co-hosted the event with Mirae Science and Technology Holdings, with participation from five universities — KAIST, GIST, DGIST, UNIST and POSTECH — along with Korea Development Bank and LG Science Park.

This year, 55 companies applied, more than double last year's 27. A written preliminary evaluation narrowed the field to 12, and a presentation round selected the final six.

Anbixlab took the grand prize for its platform combining ultra-low-power AI chips with bioelectrode pads and functional skin patches to create a smart adhesive interface. The excellence award went to Smartin Bio, which is developing biotech treatments for intractable eye diseases, and Aim System, which is developing a medical micro-robot system that travels inside blood vessels to assist with procedures. The merit awards went to Onnano Biolab, Acellon and Mano Intelligence.

Winners received trophies from the foundation's chairman along with prize money totaling 12 million won ($8,870) — 5 million won for the grand prize, 2 million won each for the excellence awards and 1 million won each for the merit awards.

Beyond the prizes, winners will receive follow-on support aimed at turning their technology into real investment and commercial ventures. Mirae Science and Technology Holdings will consider investing up to 3 billion won in the grand prize and excellence award winners. Korea Development Bank will also review follow-on investment links for participating companies, including the winners.

Award-winning companies that wish to collaborate with LG Group will be exempt from the document screening stage of Super Start, the open innovation platform operated by LG Science Park.

Past winners are already seeing results. Five companies that won in 2024 and last year have secured a combined 8.6 billion won in follow-on investment from Mirae Science and Technology Holdings, Korea Development Bank and others.

"The growth of deep tech begins with connecting outstanding research to startups, investment and the market," said Jeong Hui-gwon, chairman of the R&D Special Zone Foundation. "We will strengthen our role in linking technology, capital and markets so that the talent and research achievements of science and technology universities translate into corporate growth and industrial competitiveness."