Korea Forest Service Seeks Innovative Startups, Expanding Scope to Robotics and K-Beauty

[Financial News] The Korea Forest Service (KFS) announced on the 7th that it has begun recruiting participants for its Open Innovation program to identify promising startups capable of driving innovation in forestry and the forest industry, in partnership with the Seoul Center for Creative Economy & Innovation, the Gangwon Center for Creative Economy & Innovation, and the Korea Forestry Promotion Institute.
The Open Innovation program was designed to help the public and private sectors work together to secure new growth engines in the forest industry. It also aims to promote the digital and artificial intelligence transformation of forestry and the forest industry, as well as the creation of higher added value, through collaboration with startups that possess distinctive technological capabilities.
This year's recruitment has expanded beyond areas covered by previous Open Innovation programs in forestry, such as smart forestry, forest disaster response, and wood biomass. It now includes field-oriented physical AI applications, including robots and drones, as well as cosmetics, or K-beauty.
Applications will be accepted from the 7th through the 30th of this month. Further details are available on the Seoul Center for Creative Economy & Innovation website and OI Market.
Selected startups will receive a range of benefits, including mentoring from experts, support for demonstration infrastructure, and assistance in expanding connections to commercialization.
Shin Geon-seop, head of the KFS Forest Big Data Team, said, "This program will serve as an opportunity to demonstrate the promising future potential of the forest industry through convergence with advanced technologies. We look forward to the active interest and participation of companies with technological capabilities and creative ideas."
[email protected] Kim Won-jun Reporter