[Prime Economy] Jeonbuk State, Jeonbuk Technopark, and Sopoong Connect held the '2025 Climate Tech Startup Growth Support Project SWITCH New Track Demo Day' at COEX in Seoul on the 10th.

According to the startup industry on the 11th, this event was held as part of the global startup festival 'COMEUP' program. Around 100 people attended, including climate tech startups not only from Jeonbuk but across the country, venture capitalists (VCs), and officials from collaborating organizations.

The event served as a venue to share the companies' core technologies and the feasibility of their demonstration (field testing) within Jeonbuk. By linking with COMEUP, which was held at its largest scale ever, it enhanced the competitiveness of the local startup ecosystem.

During the opening, Lee Gyu-taek, President of Jeonbuk Technopark, delivered a congratulatory speech. Following that, Shin Hyun-young, Head of the Startup Support Division at Jeonbuk State, took the stage as a keynote speaker. Division Head Shin presented on the topic of "Measures to Revitalize the Jeonbuk State Startup and Venture Ecosystem," outlining the direction of startup policies for 2026.

The core is technology demonstration. Shin explained plans to expand a specialized demonstration environment utilizing the foundation of agricultural life, energy, and eco-friendly industries. A mid-to-long-term support system will also be established. The plan is to support early-stage startup teams so that their demonstration phase leads seamlessly to investment and scale-up.

A total of 7 teams participated in the corporate presentation session: AESTech, CycleX, iPop, HydroXpend, N-Client, ZeroSys, and Inno-te-co. They introduced their technological innovation, business models, and plans for collaboration in Jeonbuk.

Major VCs such as D.CAMP, GS E&C, and Korea Investment Accelerator participated in the judging, adding expertise. The grand prize went to HydroXpend, which was awarded a prize of 10 million KRW. The first prize (top excellence award) was given to AESTech, and the excellence awards went to N-Client and CycleX.

The winning companies will earn valuable opportunities. They will receive ongoing support, including connections to future Jeonbuk demonstration projects and follow-up investments.

In the insight session, speaker Moon Kyung-hee, author of 'Energy Business', took the podium. Under the topic 'Energy Business, A New Axis of Growth', Moon shared global energy transition trends. By explaining the core industrial signals for 2026, the speaker emphasized that climate tech startups are the main agents driving change.

An official from Jeonbuk Technopark stated, "The participating companies presented cooperative roadmaps applicable in Jeonbuk," and added, "We will expand the ecosystem with a focus on demonstration and scale-up."

Choi Kyung-hee, CEO of Sopoong Connect, said, "It is highly meaningful to announce Jeonbuk's mid-to-long-term plan at a global event," adding, "We will do our best to discover and nurture climate tech startups."