PoC with German corporations and customer development opportunities targeting government institutions in Dubai
[소셜밸류=박완규 기자] To support innovative startups entering global market, the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Seoul Business Agency (CEO Kim Hyun-woo) are recruiting participants for the 2026 Seoul Startup Hub Gongdeok Global Expansion Program from March 19th to April 7th, which offers PoC opportunities, Scale-up and Acceleration.
Based on a global network of public and private partnerships, the program helps startups establish a presence and scale up in the global market. The initial recruitment plans to select approximately 60 startups across 10 different programs targeting 13 countries including Middle East, Europe and Southeast Asia.
Moving beyond traditional market explorations, the program strengthens the global PoC initiative and introduces a customer development program to help startups achieve tangible results. These initiatives provide local technology validation and commercialization opportunities, as well as demand validation, customer-partner matching, and fundraising support for late-stage startups.
By forging strategic partnership with 10 global partners including 123 Factory, specializing in venture clienting in collaboration with Europe-based major corporations, HEC Paris, an accelerator dedicated to producing over 30% unicorns in France, Big Impact, a venture capital based in the Kansai region of Japan, and Unicorn Incubator, a leading cross-border accelerator specializing in Korea-India market entry, the program aims to closely support startups entering local markets in the Middle East, Europe and Southeast Asia.
Designated startups will receive commercialization grants and gain access to multifaceted scale-up programs, such as global corporate PoC, tailored acceleration, and local client testing.
Various programs such as 1:1 consulting, global IR and demo days, local PoCs and customer-driven business development and securing investment and oversea incorporation are provided as a comprehensive support for selected startups.
Seoul-based startups seeking to enter global markets are welcome to apply. The program aims to identify startups with proprietary technology in the fields such as AI, Bio & Health Care, Robotics, Fintech and emerging sectors.
The systematic support of the Seoul Startup Hub Gongdeok Global Expansion Program is already being proven by tangible global achievements.
Canalog gained PoC opportunity for 1.8 MWp rooftop solar power plant at a local public water treatment facility by participating in 2025 Singapore Expansion Program. Building on these achievements, it broadened local network by participating as a partner in a technological innovation research project hosted by JTC corporation in Singapore, securing KRW 40 billion in cumulative investment and accelerating global expansion.
Corporation TR forged partnership with FPT Group and AstraZeneca Vietnam. It is the company supported by Seoul Startup Hub for two consecutive years. To deploy the Spirokit, a digital-based respiratory diagnostic device, to local hospitals, the company conducted on-site evaluations and engaged in discussions regarding implementation procedures with major respiratory hospitals in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
Recruitment announcement for 2026 Seoul Startup Hub Gongdeok Global Expansion Program with PoC, Scale-up and Acceleration (10 countries) can be found on Startup Plus website. The application period runs from March 19th to April 7th.
Kim Jong-woo, the Startup Division Director from Seoul Business Agency said, “Global public-private partnership in 2025 led to tangible results such as conducting PoC projects with public institutions and participating in government research initiatives in Singapore, and forging strategic partnerships with Vietnamese enterprises. The objective is to provide support for innovative startups in achieving more tangible results leveraging enhanced programs, including PoC opportunities and customer development initiatives.”
Seoul Startup Hub is a startup support facility established by the Seoul Metropolitan Government. As the city’s policy execution body, the Seoul Business Agency (SBA) operates four facilities – Gongdoek, M+(Magok), Seongsu, and the Seoul Startup center Dongjak – offering strategic initiatives such as global expansion programs, open innovation, and startup ecosystem revitalization.
[저작권자ⓒ 사회가치 공유 언론-소셜밸류. 무단전재-재배포 금지]
