The Daegu Metropolitan City and EXCO recently celebrated the achievements of 36 companies at the first FIX Innovation Awards Ceremony, held on October 22, 2024. This event, part of the Future Innovation Tech Expo 2024 (FIX 2024), showcased the latest in future mobility, AI, Big Data, Blockchain (ABB), and robotics, drawing attention from global and domestic media, award winners, judges, and over 100 industry professionals.
From 210 participants, nine companies were honored with the Grand Innovation Award, and 27 received the Innovation Award, recognizing their contributions to South Korea's industrial ecosystem. The awards criteria focused on innovation, technology, business viability, and social/environmental utility (ESG).
Jeong Jang-soo, Daegu City Deputy Mayor for Economic Affairs, underscored the city's ambition to establish FIX as a global innovation hub. The city plans to support the awardees through business consulting and financial collaborations, aiming to transform them into 'Glocal startups' with international reach.
Notable winners included HEI for its EV battery health assessment software and OKSAN for its AI-based pedestrian safety system in the Future Mobility category. AETECH and TWINNY were recognized in Robotics for their crewless recycling center and autonomous picking solutions, respectively. In the ABB category, Phantomics Inc. and VISIONSPACE were awarded for their AI-based diagnostic solutions and real-time robot monitoring services.
The FIX Innovation Awards not only aim to spotlight innovative companies but also to provide them with growth opportunities, including ESG and technology assessment consulting, VC networking, and promotional support. This initiative reflects Daegu's strategy to nurture a vibrant startup ecosystem and assert its position as a leader in technological innovation.
As FIX 2024 progresses, the recognition of these companies is expected to draw global interest and investment, fostering further technological and economic development in the region. The successful debut of the awards ceremony marks a significant step towards establishing FIX as a cornerstone event in the international tech innovation landscape.
