Gwangju City Supports Startup Commercialization Through On-Site Demonstration of Innovative Technologies

Recruiting 44 Companies Until April 10
Up to 70 Million Won in Demonstration Funding
Follow-Up Support Including Procurement Linkage

Gwangju City is supporting the growth of startups through the “Demonstration Support Project,” which provides the entire city as a testbed for innovative technologies.

On March 29, Gwangju City announced that it will be recruiting 44 companies to participate in the “2026 Startup Product Demonstration Support Project,” which supports the demonstration of innovative products and services from startups, until April 10.

An Air Data Lab official is explaining the equipment at the demonstration site of the cooking smoke reduction device in public institutions and school cafeterias in the Gwangju area. Provided by Gwangju City.

This project aims to increase the likelihood of commercialization success by verifying products and services developed by startups in real-world environments. This is a Gwangju-style demonstration support model that utilizes public and private infrastructure to offer the entire city as a demonstration space.

This year, the recruitment is divided into two categories: 40 companies in the “public and private demand solution type” and the “autonomous type” (which includes both scaling up and general types, where companies can freely propose demonstration tasks), and 4 companies in the “location-provided type” for those needing demonstration spaces. Applications for the location-provided type are accepted on a rolling basis.

In particular, this year the city has strengthened stage-specific support by newly establishing the “scaling up type,” targeted at companies that have already demonstrated their technological capabilities through private sector-led startup support programs (TIPS) and successful investment attraction.

Eligible applicants are startups within seven years of founding that possess products or services on the verge of commercialization. In the case of 27 new industry sectors, including artificial intelligence (AI) and smart manufacturing, applications are accepted from startups within ten years of founding. Selected companies will receive up to 70 million won in demonstration funding and a customized demonstration location.

Gwangju City will issue demonstration certification to companies that complete the demonstration, and will provide follow-up support to help them develop domestic and international sales channels. This includes linkage support for designation as an innovative product by the Public Procurement Service, a technical tour for visits to industrial sites, and the KOICA (Korea International Cooperation Agency) Creative Technology Solution (CTS) program.

In 2025, the 46 companies that participated in last year’s demonstration support project achieved a combined 3.5 billion won in sales, 2.2 billion won in investment attraction, and created 71 new jobs.

Oh Younggeol, Director of Economic and Startup Affairs, stated, “With the introduction of the scaling up type and linkage support for Public Procurement Service innovative product certification, we will help startups with outstanding technology verify their market competitiveness in Gwangju’s real environment. By opening up both public and private infrastructure, we aim to establish Gwangju as a ‘city of demonstration’ that supports startup growth.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.