Gangneung Launches Startup City Task Force and Declares 'G-WAVE Startup City'

【Financial News Gangneung=Reporter Kim Ki-seop】Gangneung is working to create a Gangneung-style startup ecosystem that connects local technology and talent to entrepreneurship.
According to Gangneung on the 14th, the launch ceremony for the Gangneung Startup City Task Force and the declaration of its vision was held that day in the city hall's main conference room. The event was organized to connect local technology and talent with entrepreneurship and establish a virtuous cycle in which startup companies create jobs and generate new startups in turn.
The event was attended by Kim Man-ho, Gangneung's vice mayor, and representatives of the 19 participating organizations in the task force, including research, education, support and investment institutions. The program included a vision presentation, a keynote speech, a task force launch performance and discussions on cooperation among the participating organizations.
Gangneung declared its startup city vision, 'G-WAVE Startup City,' and presented 'Prove it in Gangneung and grow globally' as its action slogan. The vision reflects the city's goal of connecting Gangneung's technology and talent with support and investment in a single flow, creating a startup city where companies can validate their technologies locally and grow into global markets.
Gangneung's research infrastructure is one of its strengths. The city is home to government-funded research institutions found only in Gangwon Province, including the KIST Gangneung Branch, the country's only research institute specializing in natural products, and the Gangwon Technology Commercialization Division of the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology, a leader in functional materials. Gangneung plans to combine this research infrastructure with the capabilities of local universities, startup support organizations and investment institutions to build an ecosystem in which technology meets talent and advances through commercialization and validation to investment and growth.
In particular, the Early-Stage Investment Accelerator Association, the Korea Angel Investment Association, Bigbang Angels and CSP will also participate as investment institutions, strengthening the support system from the discovery of startup companies through validation, investment and growth.
Gangneung Mayor Kim Jungnam said, "We will create a startup city model that is uniquely Gangneung by connecting the city's distinctive resources, such as natural-products research institutions, with the expertise of the participating organizations in a single direction." He added, "This will be the first step toward bringing together technology and talent, as well as support and investment capabilities."

[email protected] Kim Ki-seop Reporter