LG Group announced that it will hold “LG Connect,” an event aimed at discovering promising startups and promoting exchange and joint research and development with startups, for two days starting on the 14th.
Now in its third year, LG Connect will be held in the form of an online virtual exhibition hall in consideration of the ongoing COVID-19 situation. A total of 50 innovative startups selected through a public call over the past seven months will participate, showcasing proprietary technologies and demonstrating related products in areas such as healthcare and mobility, AI solutions for lifestyle applications, virtual and augmented reality technologies, and robotics.
To expand engagement beyond industry insiders and further grow the startup ecosystem, the event name was changed from the former “Startup Tech Fair” to “LG Connect.”
In the virtual exhibition hall—accessible to anyone via PC or mobile devices—technologies on display include FakeEyes’ VR education solution, which uses virtual reality technology to provide an experience similar to attending classes in a classroom from home, as well as AIDOT’s AI technology, which analyzes medical images using artificial intelligence to support medical diagnosis.
Also featured are H Robotics’ rehabilitation-assist robot suit, which enables physical rehabilitation therapy at home using robotic technology, and Hampking’s solution, which reads invoice information from around the world, inputs it into customs systems, and supports cost calculation.
Participants of LG Connect can communicate with startups via real-time chat. The general public can view the technologies and products of participating startups through the website (www.lgconnect.co.kr) and a mobile app.
In addition, seminars on topics such as “The Mobility Market in the Post-COVID Era” and “Global Expansion of AI Companies and the AI Landscape in Advanced Countries”—covering the startup ecosystem and the latest technology trends—will be live-streamed online through the website and app.
This year, LG will select three startups with high growth potential by combining evaluations from experts such as venture capitalists with online votes from event participants, and will provide a total of KRW 60 million in development support. LG also plans to cooperate with Wadiz to help participating startups attract investment through crowdfunding.
LG will offer startups selected for collaboration with the group various forms of support, including ▲ joint research and development, ▲ commercialization assistance, ▲ residency in open research spaces within LG Science Park, and ▲ global promotion. Since 2018, more than 10 startups have achieved tangible results through technology licensing, joint research, and commercialization of products.
Lee Sam-soo, President of LG Science Park, said, “Our goal is not simply to collaborate with startups, but to build a larger innovation ecosystem and grow together,” adding, “We will continue to take the lead in open innovation and strive to discover future growth engines through broad cooperation with startups, academia, and the public sector.”
Yonhap News / Reporter Kim Cheol-seon
Published: October 14, 2020, 11:34
