7th edition of 'Startup Autobahn Korea' accepting applications through June 21; five companies to be selected in AI, digital transformation and other fields

Official recruitment poster for 'Startup Autobahn Korea 2026' [Mercedes-Benz Korea]
Official recruitment poster for 'Startup Autobahn Korea 2026' [Mercedes-Benz Korea]

Mercedes-Benz Korea announced Friday it is accepting applications for its open innovation program "Startup Autobahn Korea 2026" through June 21. The company said the initiative aims to identify promising domestic startups with innovative technologies in the future mobility sector and expand collaboration opportunities.

Startup Autobahn is a global open innovation platform launched by Mercedes-Benz Group headquarters in 2016. It was introduced in South Korea in 2020 and this year marks its seventh edition. Since its launch, the program has supported 58 domestic startups with proof-of-concept validation, commercialization assistance and access to global collaboration opportunities.

This year's program will select five companies focused on fields that can generate synergies with the future mobility industry: AI, digital transformation, workflow automation, customer experience improvement and business-to-business solutions. Applications are submitted through the official Startup Autobahn Korea website, after which candidates will go through project proposal presentations and interviews with relevant business units before final selections are announced in July.

Selected companies will work with Mercedes-Benz Korea's business units to explore potential technology and commercial partnerships. Over roughly 100 days, participants will receive regular mentoring and technical support from in-house experts and engineers through a structured development program to advance proof-of-concept validation and commercialization prospects. Final results will be presented at an "Expo Day" event scheduled for year-end.

Meanwhile, Mercedes-Benz Korea signed an MOU with the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the Korea Startup Agency last year and has been supporting the growth and global expansion of domestic startups through the corporate collaboration program "Around X."

Participating companies will receive government commercialization grants as well as mentoring and commercialization validation benefits through the joint collaboration program. Top-performing companies will also be offered the opportunity to visit Mercedes-Benz headquarters, supporting the expansion of their global networks.

Mercedes-Benz Korea is also actively engaged in talent development through its corporate social responsibility committee, recently launching "Green Plus STEAM" — an advanced interdisciplinary environmental curriculum based on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) for upper-grade elementary school students.


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