• SKC started the operation of the new material technology-_ base_d Open Platform in 2017 with the aim of providing support for the materials sector ecosystem

• Provision of fund for commercialization and tangible / intangible infrastructure to promising startups and SMEs

• The number of beneficiary SMEs / start-ups increased to 74 this year with the addition of 15 taking part in the platform including KOTEC

   

SKC (President Lee, Wan-jae) has set the number of businesses selected for the third round of ‘SKC Startup Plus’ at 16 places, an increase of six from last year. This year marks the third year for the said program designed to provide tangible / intangible resources to start-ups / SMEs with promising technologies. The Company also increased the number of institutions taking part in the program to 15 to build a stronger system of support.

On May 26, SKC delivered a total of 16 million won as financial support for the commercialization of the selected businesses at the workshop. This is for the third round of SKC Startup Plus, including the introduction of the Open Platform program held at its headquarters building in Jongno-gu, Seoul.

Those in attendance at the said event include the representative of the 16 selected businesses and those from the institutions taking part in the program. The attendees included the following: SKC President Lee, Wan-jae; President Kwon, Yeong-hae of the Ulsan Center for Creative Economy & Innovation (UCCEI); Chief Na, Gyeong-hwan of the Office of Strategic R&D Planning, President Hong, Jong-seong of Deloitte Anjin LLC.; Chief Kim, Eun-seon of the Division of Data Analysis of the Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information (KISTI); Chief Shin, Sang-il of the Center for Large-sized Business, Shinhan Bank; and Chief Lee, Seok-jung of the Technology Transfer & Protection Office of the KOTEC.

In 2017, SKC launched the Open Platform program jointly with the UCCEI and the Ulsan Techno Park, and has provided support for the businesses selected through open competition since 2018. Last year, the company included local communities and SMEs in those that are eligible for selection. The company has also increased the number of businesses that can take part in the program.

The number of businesses selected this year for the program comes to 16, an increase of six from last year. They consist of startups, including two aspiring start-up and SMEs. Their areas of business are materials for EV batteries, eco-friendly materials, and display materials.

※ The 16 selected businesses are as follows: ▲The One Materials (President Lee, Cheol-woo); ▲Dowon Bio Tech (President Ham, Ji-yeon); ▲ Lignum (President Lee, Sang-hyeon); ▲ BYGEN (President Kim, Bok-seong); ▲ Basearth (President Kim, Il-yong); ▲ Argosdyne (President Jeong, Seung-ho); ▲ AM Solution (President Hwang, Jin-taek); ▲ INOPLAZTECH (President Lee, Deog-yeon); ▲ INNATURE (President Han, Se-jin); ▲ INCHEMS (President Kim, Hak-su); ▲ HHS (President Han, Hyeong-seop); ▲ PANECHO (President Song, In-cheol); ▲ FIRST (President Kim, Jong-woo) ▲ Future Bio Works (President Jang, Woo-sun); ▲ Prof. Kim, Seong-wook of Sungkyunkwan Univ. (aspiring start-up); and▲ Prof. Lim, Byeong-gwon of Sungkyunkwan Univ. (startup-to-be)

These businesses will receive tangible / intangible infrastructure support from SKC and 15 other institutions taking part in the Open Platform program. SKC provides them with financial support for commercialization and share its 40-year R&D and management know-how. The UCCEI will provide them with education and follow-up projects required for business operation. The KISTI will help them upgrade their capability for commercialization, research, and planning. The Office of Strategic R&D Planning will provide them with support in policy-related education and system improvement. Deloitte Anjin LLC. will assist them with accounting consulting and _ link_age with global investment institutions. Shinhan Bank will help them with financing _ base_d on _ eval_uation of the value of their technologies.

It is noteworthy that the number of institutions taking part in the program increased to 15 this year including the KOTEC, Korea Startup Forum, and Legal firm Sejong. The KOTEC will match the selected businesses with the sources of technologies they need. Korea Startup Forum will provide support for the growth of start-ups. Legal firm Sejong will provide legal consulting.  

Commenting on the program, President Kwon of the UCCEI said, “I am happy to see the increase in the number of institutions taking part in the program. I think ours is now a dream team for the formulation of a sustainable ecosystem of materials industry. We will all see the opening of another world with the nationwide spread of the Open Platform, which is a business model for growing businesses.”

For his part, an SKC official said, “This year we held the open competition for the selection of the beneficiary businesses through a non-face-to-face method of screening. We did not expect to have so many businesses apply.

A while ago, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) selected us as a Business of Voluntary Win-Win Cooperation. It shows that those outside the company pay attention to what we do. We will do what we can to provide substantial assistance to the 74 beneficiary businesses and expand social values by contributing to the reinforcement of the ecosystem for materials industry.

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[On May 26, SKC held the third workshop of SKC Startup at its headquarters building in Jongno-gu, Seoul. The event was participated by the presidents of the 16 selected businesses, SKC President LEE Wanje, and those from the seven institutions taking part in the Open Platform program.]

[Reference: The list of the businesses selected for the third round of SKC Startup Plus]