SKC

● SMEs were added to the applicable participants. Applications will be received until April 5 via the website of ‘Ideamaru.’

● The contest is aimed at invigorating the ecosystem of the materials industry by sharing infrastructure and highlighting the importance of creating social values.

SKC (CEO Lee Wan-jae) will expand its “SKC Startup Plus,” a contest for new material technologies designed to expand social values. This year’s contest has extended the scope of participants to small and medium enterprises (SME) and will also select more winners to around 10 teams. SKC Startup Plus is a program to provide funds, startup training, and R&D know-how to companies with excellent ideas and has offered such support to eight startups and ventures who were selected last year.

SKC, along with the Ulsan Center for Creative Economy & Innovation, the Office of Strategic R&D Planning (OSP), the Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information (KISTI), and accounting firm Deloitte Anjin, is accepting applicants for the 2nd SKC Startup Plus. Would-be startups, startups, and SMEs that have creative business ideas can apply. Applications will be accepted until April 5 via Ideamaru (http://www.ideamaru.or.kr)

Around 10 teams will be selected as the final winners. They will be announced on April 26 after going through document screening and presentation evaluation. Companies in all areas of the high-function and high-value materials industry can participate, including materials for petrochemicals, film, semiconductors, mobility, and next-generation display, as well as materials related to the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Selected teams can move into the Ulsan Center for Creative Economy & Innovation for free of charge, where they can receive startup training and mentoring. SKC will provide business funds as well as office and promotion spaces. It will also share its 40-year expertise accumulated as a material expert company, such as management know-how and R&D infrastructure, and offer mentoring programs on patent, technology, and more.

The three new partnering organizations who joined SKC’s “Open Platform based on New Material Technology” this February. OSP will work to promote government policies that companies may not be familiar with and to improve related systems. KISTI will help SMEs commercialize their business ideas and upgrade their research and planning capabilities. Deloitte Anjin will offer accounting and tax-related management consulting to such companies as well as review investment support in association with investment institutions by utilizing its global network.

SKC has been striving to contribute to the rapid growth of materials companies and the invigoration of the industry’s ecosystem. In 2017, it laid the groundwork for providing support for materials firms together with five organizations including the Ulsan Center for Creative Economy & Innovation. Through the 1st SKC Startup Plus in 2018, eight companies were selected and have been provided support. This year, SKC has enhanced its support structure with three more partners including OSP.

An SKC official expressed, “Our efforts to actively promote the shared infrastructure, which SK Group presented in pursuit of both social and economic values, have led to solidifying our support system in collaboration with more institutions. We will continue to help create an environment where small companies grow and thrive so that more jobs can be created and the ecosystem can become stronger.” [END]