Interior ministry names TwinSaver winner of disaster data startup contest

The interior ministry announced Thursday that the AutoSaver team won the grand prize at the fourth Disaster Safety Data Utilization Startup Competition with its TwinSaver project. The entry uses artificial intelligence to predict hazards and recommend response measures based on public data such as emergency alerts, shelter locations and weather warnings.

Held on July 27, the competition drew 59 entries focused on generating AI prompts for disaster management. A panel of experts evaluated submissions on data utility, creativity and potential for commercialization, selecting six finalists from ten teams that advanced to the final round.

TwinSaver secured the top honor and a 4 million won startup grant, disbursed if the team launches a business within the year. Judges praised the project for providing a simulation tool applicable to table-top training exercises.

Two teams received excellence awards and 2 million won each: DeepEyes for a landslide prediction model based on land cover analysis, and Shin Jae-woo for a crowd-sensing service called CrowdSense. Three other teams earned merit awards and 1 million won grants for projects ranging from smart underground evacuation systems to heatwave safety solutions.

The first-place winners in each category will advance to the finals of the 14th Government-wide Public Data and AI Startup Competition scheduled for September and receive promotional opportunities at the 2026 Disaster Safety Industry Expo.

Park Hyung-bae, head of the ministry's Safety Prevention Policy Office, said the event confirmed the potential of AI driven by disaster data and that the ministry will actively support the creation of diverse artificial intelligence applications aimed at improving public safety.