32 Daejeon companies selected since 2022, accounting for 32% of all defense innovation firms
Six Daejeon-based companies have been selected for the Defense Acquisition Program Administration's 2026 Defense Innovation Company 100 program, the city announced Thursday. The latest picks bring the total number of Daejeon firms chosen since 2022 to 32, accounting for 32 percent of all designated defense innovation companies nationwide.
The Defense Innovation Company 100 program, running from 2022 through this year, identifies and selects 100 outstanding small and venture businesses in advanced defense strategic industries. Each selected company receives up to 5 billion won ($3.73 million) in project funding over five years, along with expert consulting and military cooperation testing, with the aim of developing them into leading defense industry players.
The six Daejeon companies chosen this year all possess advanced technologies and growth potential in the defense sector. Eurorobotics will develop autonomous infiltration and target acquisition technology for multiple humanoid robots; Sims Reality will build an AI agent-based platform for testing operational requirements and analyzing failure causes; Space Solution will develop components for an eco-friendly contact-ignition bipropellant propulsion system; Fiberpro will work on three-axis optical gyroscope technology for low-orbit satellites; Nexwill will develop miniaturized and lightweight radar-jammer fusion technology and cooperative processing for fusion sensor networks; and Fine SNS will develop a servo-type accelerometer based on quartz pendulum technology for control, tactical and navigation applications.
The selection is expected to create synergies with the third-phase defense materials, parts and equipment specialized complex chosen in the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy's call for applications in September, boosting the development of local defense companies and inter-company cooperation. As advanced technology development by defense innovation companies and collaboration among materials, parts and equipment firms centered on the specialized complex expand, officials expect opportunities for technology commercialization in the region to grow and the defense supply chain to be further strengthened.
Yang Seung-chan, director of Daejeon's Future Strategy Office, said he hopes the selection will accelerate the growth of local defense companies and broaden the city's advanced defense industry base. "We plan to actively support the selected companies so they can translate their technology development achievements into commercialization and advance into both domestic and international defense markets," he said.
kwonhl@heraldcorp.com
