North Gyeongsang Province launches startup city task force, declares 'startup transformation'

North Gyeongsang Province launched the "North Gyeongsang Startup City Task Force" on Tuesday at the Stanford Hotel in Andong, bringing together key startup institutions from across the province, including representatives from Pohang, Gumi and Gyeongsan.

At the event, the province unveiled its startup transformation vision and announced the "Startup North Gyeongsang 3·5·10" initiative.

The launch drew about 100 attendees, including North Gyeongsang Governor Lee Cheol-woo, Pohang Mayor Park Yong-seon, Gyeongsan Mayor Jo Hyeon-il, Gumi Deputy Mayor Jeong Seong-hyeon, and Daegu-North Gyeongsang Regional Office of SMEs and Startups Director Jeong Gi-hwan, along with officials from universities, research institutions, investment firms, large and mid-sized companies, and public institutions.

The task force is a coalition of more than 50 organizations that will lead regional startup support and innovation efforts.

Six institutions — including North Gyeongsang Province, the cities of Pohang, Gumi and Gyeongsan, the Daegu-North Gyeongsang Regional Office of SMEs and Startups, and the North Gyeongsang Creative Economy Innovation Center — will serve as operating bodies. Another 44 institutions responsible for talent development, research and technology, and investment and finance will participate as partner organizations.

The province plans to compete for the Ministry of SMEs and Startups' startup city project, which will select six non-metropolitan cities in December, with a "collaborative startup city" model. It aims to build a stage-by-stage support system linking the three cities, covering everything from startup discovery to commercialization.

The "Startup North Gyeongsang 3·5·10" initiative is structured around three strategic pillars, a five-stage growth solution and 10 core action tasks. Tailored to each city's role in the startup growth cycle, Gyeongsan will serve as the "Start" hub, Pohang as the "Prove" hub and Gumi as the "Make" hub.

"We will pool the capabilities of more than 50 organizations to lead the startup transformation and do everything we can to support the emergence of North Gyeongsang-style unicorn companies," Governor Lee said.