Science ministry backs four deep-tech startups with 5.5 billion won

The science ministry said Thursday it will channel 5.5 billion won ($4.1 million) into four deep-tech startups selected at the final of its R&D special-zone challenge, pairing private investment with follow-on research projects.

Six companies presented at the event at the GS Tower in Seoul, chosen from 182 scouted from June through investment roadshows across four regions and an open call. Written screening and closed-door pitch sessions cut that field to the final half-dozen.

The money divides into 3.5 billion won ($2.61 million) of private investment from Inlight Ventures, Innopolis Partners and Sema Investment, and 2 billion won ($1.49 million) in follow-on R&D projects. The three investors signed investment commitments with the four funded companies at the event.

Cryo H&I took the top prize, the deputy prime minister's award. The company has localized cryogenic refrigerators, cryopumps and helium compressors that Korea had relied on imports for, and has completed mass-production validation in semiconductor lines at Samsung Electronics and SK hynix. It has more recently extended its work to dilution refrigerators for quantum computers. It will receive 1 billion won ($745,879) in investment and a 500 million won ($372,940) research project, with project funding of up to 525 million won ($391,586) over two years.

SC Solution Global won the runner-up prize for LeakMaster, a water-pipe leak detection system that combines AIoT sensors with deep-learning position estimation. The company has signed a supply contract worth about 13.5 billion won ($10.1 million) with Air Selangor, Malaysia's largest state water utility, and supplies sites in Korea operated by K-water, Posco and Samsung Electronics. It will receive 500 million won ($372,940) in investment alongside its research project.

The remaining awards went to Prnasier, which is developing a drug-delivery platform that turns intravenous injections into home subcutaneous shots using a hydrogel that gels on contact with body moisture; Gaon Platform, which monitors nuclear plant equipment for signs of failure; and Thermoeye, which makes thermal imaging cameras for industrial sites, along with Optico, which has a portable device for non-invasive skin and peripheral blood vessel diagnosis.

First Vice Minister Koo Hyuk-chae said the combined support for research and investment gives deep-tech firms a springboard for rapid growth. "The science ministry will take the lead in cooperation between the government and the private sector so that promising deep-tech startups can be discovered early and go on to produce major results," he said.

The challenge began in 2022 and is in its fifth year. It was restructured from 2025 to bundle private investment with follow-on R&D tasks for the companies it selects.