[미리 보는 CES 2021] CES is a startup olympic… K-startup “Let’s grab an investment opportunity”

‘CES 2021’, the world’s largest technology exhibition, is an opportunity for startups to show off their innovative products and technologies and attract investment. This year, as CES was held online due to the spread of Corona 19, the number of startups participating decreased from last year, but the trend of startups participating in CES as a group with the support of the government and local governments continues this year.

According to the statistics of the Korea Information and Communication Technology Industry Association (KICTA) on the 10th, there were 340 Korean companies that confirmed participation in the’CES 2021′ as of the 8th, of which 120 startups were included. Considering that 200 startups out of 390 Korean companies participating in last year’s CES participated, the participation rate of Korean companies decreased this year. However, the number of Korean startups participating may increase slightly as the CES organizer, CTA (National Consumer Technology Association), continues to receive exhibitors until the day before the event opens.

Han-beom Lee, Vice Chairman of KICTA, said, “As CES was held online for the first time this year, it is analyzed that the participation rate of companies has declined.” Only participate,” he said.

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups will support 97 start-ups to participate in the’K Startup Pavilion’ at this CES. The Ministry of Small and Medium Business has selected startups in the fields of healthcare, 5G, Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, and artificial intelligence (AI) through 10 supporting organizations including the Startup Promotion Agency, Small and Medium Venture Business Corporation, and Daegu Techno Park. Three of the participating companies have won the CES Innovation Award.

Seoul City will establish a Seoul Pavilion at’CES 2021′ and introduce 15 companies in Seoul. It has been participating for two consecutive years following last year. 15 companies were selected by dividing into three fields: smart transportation and environment, smart safety and welfare, and smart economy and living. Seoul City supported 20 companies to participate in CES last year, resulting in a total of 16.29 million dollars (17.7 billion won) in contracts.

Support for private companies to participate in startups is also continuing. Samsung Electronics supports a total of 21 startups to participate. These are 4 outstanding tasks of’C Lab Inside’, an in-house venture development program, and 17 startups fostered by’C Lab Outside’, an external startup support program. This is the highest number since Samsung Electronics has supported startups to participate in CES since 2016.

Six startups invested by Naver, Art Lab, Viewrun Technology, and Mobil Tech, have also confirmed their participation in CES.

CES is a’place to realize ideas’ where startups can exhibit innovative products and technologies and explore opportunities to attract investment. CTA has been running’Eureka Park’, an exhibition space exclusively for startups since 2012. There was a startup investment worth 1.5 billion dollars (about 1.6 trillion won) until last year. When start-ups participate in groups at a national level, the difficult conditions for participation are somewhat relaxed, and the number of cases in which start-up teams are formed and participated in each country are increasing.

“CES is a great opportunity to show the innovativeness of Korean start-ups in the world’s largest market, the United States,” said Min-gyu Kim, head of the Technology Startup Division of the Mid-term Industry and Energy Department.