The Smart Construction Support Center of the Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology (KICT) will host the "2025 Smart Construction Open Innovation" event on September 3rd and 4th, directly connecting large and medium-sized enterprises in the construction, land, infrastructure, and transportation sectors with technology-based startups. This event aims to discover practical collaboration models between companies in need and startups, facilitate field-applicable technology verification, and promote joint commercialization.
The Smart Construction Support Center, operated by the Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology, is a hub for supporting smart construction startups and growth. It was established to promote digital transformation and technological innovation in the construction industry. It offers a full-cycle support program, including startup space, professional training and mentoring, investment connections, support for advanced demonstration equipment, and overseas expansion. The center also discovers and nurtures startups in diverse fields, including BIM, OSC, construction automation, digital sensing, smart safety, and big data. Currently, it is supporting 107 startups and SMEs in the smart construction technology field and is implementing customized commercialization support programs for these companies.
This event will select startups and companies with a strong desire to collaborate, and host customized one-on-one meetups on the day of the event. Industry leaders such as Hyundai Engineering & Construction, Hoban Construction, and Lotte Engineering & Construction, as well as global IT companies, will participate as companies with a strong desire to collaborate, which is expected to further deepen on-site cooperation and technological exchange. Each company with a strong desire to collaborate will be matched with a startup with innovative technologies aligned with their strategic areas, actively exploring Proof of Concept (PoC) and commercialization opportunities.
Participating companies were selected based on core areas of smart construction, including Building Information Modeling (BIM), Off-Site Construction (OSC), construction automation, digital sensing, smart safety, big data and platforms, and systems. We identified companies with technologies that meet the needs of demanding companies. Representative participating startups include Chungcheong Co., Ltd., Nebsys Co., Ltd., E&ICity Co., Ltd., Gongsae-ro Co., Ltd., Build Corporation Co., Ltd., Neotech Co., Ltd., Formis Co., Ltd., Lastmile Co., Ltd., Firebus Lab, Brecon Co., Ltd., Sera Co., Ltd., Senblock Co., Ltd., KCMC Co., Ltd., and Airlink.
Collaboration continues after the event. Companies confirmed for collaboration will be provided with a proof-of-concept (PoC) testing environment and consulting, and any technical and management challenges that arise during the process will be addressed through expert mentoring. This follow-up support focuses on generating results and enhancing sustainability. Companies with outstanding performance will also be considered for follow-up investment and offered opportunities to develop domestic and international markets and promote their products.
Han Jae-gu, director of the Smart Construction Support Center, said, “This open innovation is not just a networking event; it is an actionable program that combines the actual needs of companies in need with the innovative technologies of startups and can be applied immediately in the field.” He added, “Through our collaboration with the Smart Construction Alliance, we will strengthen the foundation for innovation across the industry and securing global competitiveness.”
This event is expected to spur the digital transformation and smartization of the domestic construction industry, while also presenting a new model of cooperation where large corporations and startups grow through a mutually complementary relationship. If a virtuous cycle of organically linking technology development, field application, and market expansion is established, the smart construction industry is poised to leap forward as an even more competitive future industry.
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