Daegu will launch a full-scale push to develop a global deep tech startup city after being selected for the “Startup City Project” organized by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, the city government said Tuesday.
The Startup City Project aims to disperse startup resources concentrated in the Seoul metropolitan area to other regions and foster self-sustaining regional innovation.
The project will initially designate Daegu, Gwangju, Daejeon, and Ulsan — cities home to science and technology institutes — as the four key hubs.
Daegu, having secured the largest share of state funding among the four hub municipalities at 18.7 billion won this year, will intensively pursue a customized startup package program through 2030 that links talent discovery, technology commercialization, investment attraction, global expansion, and settlement support.
Through this initiative, Daegu envisions emerging as a global deep tech startup city centered on deep tech startups in advanced strategic industries such as AI and robotics.
Specifically, the city has selected three priority development areas: ▲ artificial intelligence and software (Suseong Alpha City and Dongdaegu Venture Valley), ▲ robotics and mobility (Technopolis and Seongseo Industrial Complex), and ▲ medical and bio (Daegu Gyeongbuk Medical Innovation Foundation complex).
To ensure smooth execution of the project, the city has formed a task force led by the Daegu Center for Creative Economy and Innovation, with participation from 52 startup support institutions including DGIST, Kyungpook National University, Keimyung University, the Korea Institute for Robotics & Industry Advancement, the Daegu Mechatronics & Materials Institute, the Daegu Digital Innovation Promotion Agency, and K-MEDI hub.
In particular, the city will invest 13.5 billion won this year in a support program for promising startups based in or seeking to relocate to Daegu, intensively nurturing 74 companies selected through an open call.
Startups in new industry sectors (within 10 years of founding) will receive up to 400 million won, while those in general sectors (within seven years) will receive up to 250 million won in commercialization funding.
Daegu held a Startup City strategy presentation hosted by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups at DGIST on Tuesday, unveiling its vision and strategy under the theme “Daegu, a Leading Advanced Manufacturing AX City Driven by AI and Robotics Startups.”
“With the selection for the Startup City Project as a turning point, we will devote our efforts to making Daegu a leading advanced industry AX city driven by startups,” said Kim Jung-ki, acting Daegu mayor and administrative vice mayor.