“AI, defense, data centers and more...” Investment race heats up among 15 companies restructuring their businesses [fn Market Watch]

[Financial News] An investment presentation (IR) for companies approved for business restructuring is scaling up this year. The effectiveness of the program was demonstrated when Arion secured an actual investment at last year’s inaugural IR. This year, the number of participating companies has tripled, and participation by investors—including venture capital firms (VCs), corporate venture capital firms (CVCs) and private equity firms (PEs)—has also expanded. The move is seen as broadening policy support, once centered on loans, to include equity investment.
According to the investment banking (IB) industry on the 12th, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Korea Productivity Center (KPC) will hold the “NEXT INDUSTRY IR-DAY 2026 for Companies Approved for Business Restructuring” on the 21st and 28th at Drium Forest Hall on Teheran-ro in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. The number of participating companies has risen to 15 this year, from five last year.
“Companies approved for business restructuring” are those whose plans to enter new industries or upgrade their businesses have been approved by the government under the Special Act for the Promotion of Corporate Vitality (Corporate Vitality Act). Approval entitles them to preferential treatment in tax benefits, policy funding and research and development (R&D) support. However, because support has mainly taken the form of loans from financial institutions, the companies have faced limits in attracting the equity investment needed as they grow. The IR is intended to fill that gap.
At the first session on the 21st, seven companies in artificial intelligence (AI), information and communications technology (ICT) and advanced industrial technologies will give presentations. Arion, which secured investment last year, will showcase its AI-based autonomous operation platform for unmanned mobility systems in the defense and public infrastructure sectors.
Shilla System will present a solution that uses medical imaging AI to diagnose musculoskeletal disorders, while Tensoftworks will introduce a domain-specific search solution combining ontologies and AI. SEBO Technology (specialized equipment for shipbuilding, marine and offshore wind industries), STN (landscape and smart lighting), Apec (smart-farm plant cultivation) and Cheongmyeong Giyun Environment (environmental pollutant measurement and analysis) will also present.
The second session on the 28th will feature eight companies in materials, parts and equipment and advanced manufacturing. Ninelabs stands out for developing liquid-cooling systems, demand for which is rising as investment in data centers expands. SL Tech (AI drone stations), MK Steel (steel materials and AI quality inspection), Daewon FNC (display and semiconductor equipment, and conductive ceramics), RoboLife (power-assist devices for wheelchairs), IDR System (smart manufacturing for agricultural and food products), Easy Ceramic Research Association (3D-printed dental ceramics) and Hyojin ENH (biogas-based clean-energy facilities) will also present to investors.
Each company will have 10 minutes to present and 10 minutes for questions and answers, for a total of 20 minutes. Networking will follow the presentations. Attendance will be capped at 40 people per session to allow investors and companies to speak directly. Applications are being accepted through the 19th.
A Korea Productivity Center representative said, “We are holding an IR for companies approved for business restructuring. Support through loans from financial institutions is one option, but through the IR we aim to match companies with actual investment.” The representative added, “Most of the companies are small and medium-sized enterprises. We expect the IR experience to help them prepare materials for subsequent investment rounds.”
An IB industry source said, “It is attractive to investors that these companies have received government approval, which means their business transition plans have been vetted to some extent.” The source added, “Many are in areas attracting strong market interest, such as AI, defense and data centers, so there is potential for this to lead to follow-on investment.”
[email protected] Kang Gu-gwi Reporter