SK Ecoplant said Wednesday it is launching the “2026 Tech Open Collaboration” contest to identify and nurture startups in the artificial intelligence and semiconductor sectors.
The contest is co-hosted by 17 public, academic and investment institutions along with SK Ecoplant, including the Innopolis Foundation, the Seoul, Chungnam and Sejong Centers for Creative Economy and Innovation, the Seoul Business Agency, Hoseo University, the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), the Cheonan Science Industry Promotion Foundation and SK Securities. The aim is to discover promising startups with strong capabilities and innovative technologies and to support them through joint research and development and funding.
The contest covers eight categories: industrial AI, generative AI, AI security, wearable AI, robotics and drones, semiconductor EPC, eco-friendly semiconductors, and others. Applications are open to prospective founders and startups with up to seven years of operating history that possess technologies or solutions in the designated fields. Online applications will be accepted from Wednesday through May 19.
Final selections will be made through document review and presentation screenings, based on criteria including technological innovation, potential for joint technology development and commercialization prospects.
Selected startups will conduct joint research and development of innovative technologies with SK Ecoplant and its affiliates, and will receive comprehensive support including government funding and investment attraction through the co-hosting public, academic and investment institutions. After technology advancement, commercialization support will also be provided based on business viability and field applicability.
SK Ecoplant has been pursuing technology cooperation through various open innovation programs, including this contest, the “AI Deep Tech Open Innovation Program” and “Contech Meetup Day.” Over the past three years from 2023 through last year, the company identified a total of 31 award-winning companies through its contests and pursued joint technology development and commercialization.
“Through this contest, we expect to pursue joint technology development and commercialization with startups that possess innovative technologies in the AI and semiconductor sectors,” said Lim Jae-wook, head of SK Ecoplant’s Management Support Center. “We will continue to build a sustainable industrial ecosystem through open innovation with diverse companies.”
