Picnic Connect announced that it held the launch ceremony for the 'NHarvestX', an agtech youth entrepreneurship program co-hosted by the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation and the Korea Institute for Agricultural Sciences and Technology, at Heyground in Seongsu-dong, Seoul on July 15.
NHarvestX is an open innovation program that connects the on-site needs of Nonghyup affiliates with the innovation capabilities of technology-based startups, and aims for problem-solving collaboration centered on proof of concept (PoC). As a co-operator of this program, Sopung Connect supports the entire process from proof design to on-site verification and growth strategy establishment.
A total of 7 participating companies were selected this year: ▲Refilly (eco-friendly grain packaging solution), ▲Big Mobility (parking platform exclusively for trucks), ▲Lab2Bottle (development of liquor using local agricultural products), ▲Dosigotgan (local-based side dish editing shop), ▲Gyulmedal (development of Jeju citrus food), ▲Agrosolution Korea (agricultural product value chain based on vertical farms), ▲Iocrops (automation of smart farm operations).
At the launching ceremony, the program was introduced, the business contents of each participating company were shared, and there was an exchange with the working-level staff of Nonghyup affiliates to specify the PoC project. Over the next six months, participating startups will utilize Nonghyup’s on-site infrastructure and network to carry out verification projects and receive support such as technological advancement, mentoring, and follow-up investment linkage.
“We hope that the participating companies will be able to lead innovation in the agricultural sector based on Nonghyup’s resources,” said Hyun-Sang Cho, head of the Digital Strategy Department at Nonghyup Central Federation. “We hope that NHarvestX will become a representative example of win-win cooperation between Nonghyup and startups.”
“It is meaningful that agtech startups can solve real-world challenges and explore new market opportunities with a field-focused partner like Nonghyup,” said Kyung-hee Choi, CEO of Picnic Connect. “I hope that NHarvestX will grow into an exemplary open innovation model for sustainable agricultural innovation.”
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