Daejeon Named Lead for 'K-Defense Startup Incubation' Program; Secures 1.5 billion KRW (approximately $1,125,000) in Government Funding
Will nurture 15 companies across the Chungcheong and Jeolla regions as it pushes to become a national defense startup hub
Will nurture 15 companies across the Chungcheong and Jeolla regions as it pushes to become a national defense startup hub
Daejeon is positioning itself as a rising hub for K-defense startups. Daejeon city announced on the 27th that it has been selected by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration to serve as the executing agency for the Jeolla–Chungcheong region under the 2026 “K-Defense Startup Phase 1 Incubation” program.
The city will lead a consortium centered on Daejeon Technopark, joined by Jeonbuk Technopark, the Innopolis Venture Association, the Daejeon Defense Industry Cooperative, and KAIST’s Eulji Research Institute. Over roughly eight months through December 2026, the program will deploy 1.5 billion KRW (approximately $1,125,000) in national funds to launch the initiative.
The K-Defense Startup Incubation program targets early-stage startups and promising small and medium-sized enterprises that lack prior defense experience. It offers staged support — from project planning and defense-focused training to pre-competitive R&D and mentoring — to accelerate companies’ entry into the defense sector. The goal is to channel private-sector innovation into defense and shore up the innovation base of the defense industrial ecosystem.
Daejeon plans to identify and develop 15 promising defense startups across the Jeolla and Chungcheong regions. Selected firms will receive tailored, end-to-end support covering concept planning, prototype development, and testing.
After a Phase 1 performance review, participating companies can compete for multi-year R&D awards: Phase 2 (2027) offers up to 500 million KRW per company (approximately $375,000), and Phase 3 (2028) up to 2.1 billion KRW per company (approximately $1,575,000). These follow-on funds are intended to help firms enter the defense market and scale up.
The city intends to create a super-regional cooperation framework that links Daejeon’s R&D capabilities with Jeonbuk’s materials sector. By assigning roles across the region, officials aim to run a systematic pipeline from company discovery to growth support.
The program will also promote the defense conversion of locally specialized technologies — including robotics, drones, and advanced materials — and strengthen connections with systems integrators to drive tangible industrial ecosystem expansion.
Yoo Se-jong, director of Daejeon’s Future Strategy Industry Office, said, “Through super-regional cooperation, we will expand full-spectrum support for startups — from initial defense entry to growth — and accelerate the creation of an advanced defense industrial ecosystem. This will help realize Daejeon’s role as a national defense industry hub.”
Daejeon Technopark and the Defense Technology Promotion Research Institute plan to finalize the implementation plan and sign a cooperation agreement in early May before beginning direct company support.
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