The Ministry of Science and ICT (Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT Bae Kyung-hoon) announced on August 19 that it will accept applications for the 2026 GovTech Startup Competition from Thursday, August 20 to Monday, September 21. The competition seeks to identify and support prospective founders and early-stage startups aiming to innovate public services by applying cutting-edge private-sector technologies such as artificial intelligence and data to the public sphere, with a total prize pool of 70 million won.
 [코리안투데이] Poster for the 2026 GovTech Startup Competition © 장형임 기자 |
GovTech refers to the field of adopting cutting-edge private-sector technologies such as AI and data into the public sphere to deliver public services for citizens, resolve regional and social problems, and innovate public infrastructure. Now in its third year, this year’s competition focuses on discovering prospective founders and early-stage startups that possess public-service innovation ideas and technical capabilities grounded in AI and digital technology.
Applications are divided into two paths: the Idea Planning Track and the Product and Service Development Track. Participating teams select one detailed area among public services for citizens, regional and social problem-solving, and public infrastructure innovation, and apply on a free-topic basis through the competition website (https://k-govtech.kr). Prospective founders may apply to both tracks, while early-stage startups may participate only in the Product and Service Development Track.
Judging proceeds in two stages. Through a first-round written evaluation in September, roughly 42 teams — three times the number of award winners, or about 21 teams per track — will be selected first, and they will be provided with mentoring to raise the quality of their final deliverables. A presentation evaluation in November will then determine the final 14 award-winning teams, seven per track.
At the December awards ceremony, the 14 selected winning entries will receive prize money and honors totaling 70 million won. In addition, preferential benefits will be granted when applying for the following year’s GovTech Startup AI Demonstration and Commercialization Support Program, so the competition is expected to serve as a springboard that connects to growth beyond founding rather than ending as a one-time award.
Detailed information such as the competition schedule and evaluation criteria can be found on the competition website (https://k-govtech.kr), and an operations secretariat (☎ 02-726-1096, k-govtech@wips.co.kr) is also available for individual inquiries.
Choi Dong-won, Director General for AI Infrastructure Policy at the Ministry of Science and ICT, said, ‘The GovTech Startup Competition is a starting point for public innovation where outstanding ideas and technical capabilities from the private sector can be discovered,’ adding, ‘We hope for great interest and active participation from prospective founders and early-stage startups in the GovTech field, and we expect this competition to serve as a springboard for participants’ founding and growth.’
지역 홍보대사 신청 기자양성과정 신청 코리안투데이 지부장 신청 코리안투데이 인천강화코리안브랜드대상 신청 최고경영인대상 신청 소비자만족도대상 신청
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