74 innovative products in AI, satellite communications selected; 120 public institutions to pilot them
South Korea is stepping up public-sector testing of innovative products set to drive the future of advanced digital industries, including AI and satellite communications.
The Public Procurement Service announced Tuesday that it had selected the targets for the third round of its 2026 innovative product pilot purchase program and published the results on its Innovation Marketplace platform.
The pilot purchase program has the Public Procurement Service proactively procure innovative products, supply them to public institutions, and test their quality and performance in real-world operating environments.
This round covers a total of 12.7 billion won ($8.97 million), with 74 innovative products — spanning AI, satellite communications and portable anti-drone systems — selected alongside 120 public institutions that will deploy them in the field.
The third round features a range of products combining digital transformation with cutting-edge technology. Key selections include an AI wearable safety management system that analyzes workers' biometric signals in real time, and a gateway antenna system capable of stable satellite communications.
Also selected are a portable anti-drone device capable of long-range detection and beyond-line-of-sight neutralization, and a data-driven wearable walking rehabilitation medical device. These advanced products will be deployed at public-sector sites to drive innovation in public services.
In the first half of this year, the agency selected 225 products and 357 institutions across two rounds. With this third round completing this year's selection process, the agency will launch a pilot purchase demand survey in October to begin preparations for the 2027 program.
Kang Seong-min, vice commissioner of the Public Procurement Service, said the pilot purchase program "placed emphasis on proactively introducing advanced innovative technologies to support the securing of future competitiveness." He added that the agency would "concentrate all available policy capacity to ensure this goes beyond mere technology development and connects to product commercialization, serving as a foundation for technology-leading growth through innovation."
kwonhl@heraldcorp.com
