Nearslab announced that its self-developed drones 'AiDEN' and 'KAiDEN' were selected as 'recommended targets for offset trade in the industrial cooperation field' supported by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy in the second half of 2024.
Offset trade is a form of trade in which domestic parts are exported or related defense technology is transferred in exchange for purchasing weapons or equipment from overseas, and is used as an important means of promoting industrial cooperation and technological exchange in large-scale contracts between countries.
As the target items of the defense offset trade are expanded beyond existing military supplies to include aerospace, electrical and electronic, and AI (artificial intelligence) as well as advanced strategic industries, the recommended items are selected and managed from civilian-military dual-use items. As the target items are expanded to include high value-added technologies, it is expected to play an important role in the development of not only the defense industry but also civilian advanced industries.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy comprehensively evaluates ▲ technological excellence ▲ suitability ▲ corporate capabilities ▲ export ripple effects ▲ policy conformity, etc. to select candidates, and finally registers and manages them after deliberation by the working committee. Selected items are recommended to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration and promoted to companies participating in overseas offset trade. In addition, through support programs such as export consultation meetings, it expands opportunities to enter the global market and contributes to strengthening the international competitiveness of domestic advanced technology products.
In 2024, Nearslab recorded export performance of approximately $2 million in the defense and public safety sectors with Aiden and Kaiden, supplying products to various regions including the US, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. In particular, MRO (maintenance, repair, and operation) businesses utilizing drone technology are actively being conducted in the European and Southeast Asian markets, so Nearslab products are highly likely to become core technologies for industrial development.
CEO Choi Jae-hyeok said, “The fact that both Aiden and Kayden were selected as preferred candidates for offset trade this time is a recognition of Nearslab’s technological prowess and product competitiveness,” and added, “This year, we will discover practical business opportunities in more countries and accelerate our entry into the global market.”
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