South Korea has launched a civil-military technology “pitch day” to link startups and research institutions directly with military needs, aiming to boost innovation across the defense sector, ChosunBiz reported.
The event was held at the Army Education and Training Command in Daejeon, in the central part of the country.
It was organized by the Ministry of Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises and Startups, the Ministry of National Defense, and the Ministry of Science and Information and Communications Technology.
The initiative marked the first coordinated effort by the three ministries to apply civilian research and technological developments to military use.
‘Pitch Day’
Unlike conventional investor-oriented pitch events, the format enabled small and midsize companies to present technologies directly to military officials and receive structured feedback on real-world applicability and integration potential.
More than 400 participants attended, representing government agencies, industry, academia, research institutes, and the armed forces.
The program featured technology briefings aligned with identified military needs, live demonstrations, exhibition booths, and the signing of cooperation agreements among participating public institutions.
According to local media, 10 projects primarily focused on unmanned mobile systems were selected based on recommendations from the Korea Aerospace Research Institute and the Korea Institute of Startup and Entrepreneurship Development.
Demonstrations featured coordinated unmanned platform operations, AI-based reconnaissance, and logistics robots.
An additional 25 companies displayed technologies in an indoor exhibition area.
Officials said the pitch day will become a recurring platform to lower entry barriers for innovative firms and accelerate the adoption of advanced civilian technologies within the military.
Pushing Defense Innovation
The initiative reflects South Korea’s growing focus on small and medium-sized companies and startups as key drivers of defense innovation.
Earlier this month, Seoul announced plans to create 100 defense-focused startups by 2030.
As part of the effort, the government also aims to develop 30 high-growth startups capable of generating annual sales of 100 billion won (around $69 million) by the end of the decade.
