South Korea's Seoul City provides up to 300 million won per company to develop technology to help socially vulnerable people

On the 14th, the city of Seoul in South Korea announced that it will award up to 300 million won to companies working on the development of technology to help the socially vulnerable, in connection with the ``Accompaniment with the Vulnerable'' project that Seoul is promoting to help the socially vulnerable.
The company announced that it will provide support for the project (approximately 33 million yen). Up until now, with support from Seoul City, we have provided visual analysis bus route number guidance for people with low vision, and services for visually impaired people using artificial intelligence (AI).
Various technologies, such as communication support, have been developed to alleviate the difficulties and inconveniences faced by socially vulnerable people. Seoul has been implementing this project since last year, but is struggling with a narrow market and low profitability.
We support the commercialization of technology by vulnerable technology development companies. This year, we plan to invest 1.8 billion won (approximately 200 million yen), which is twice as much as last year, to support more companies.
The six areas covered include livelihood/nursing care, housing, medical care/health, education, culture, safety, and social integration. Supporting the independence and security of the weak
Supporting companies with innovative technologies that contribute to improvements in health, education, and emotional well-being. Selected companies will receive not only piecemeal support but also technical consulting in collaboration with experts.
Services will be provided. In addition, for products that have been tested, commercialization support will be provided, including promotion of innovative product designation by the Public Procurement Agency and exemption from public nature evaluations, with the aim of expanding sales channels in the public market.
Furthermore, Seoul City will seek to develop sales channels for vulnerable technology through participation in domestic and international exhibitions and marketing support for overseas expansion. Companies wishing to participate should apply on April 1st.
Applications can be submitted online through the comprehensive management system of the Seoul Economic Promotion Agency (SBA) Seoul R&D Support Center by 4 pm on the 9th. The final selected companies will be announced in June.
Cho Mi-sook, head of the group promoting coexistence with the vulnerable, said, ``We will continue to expand innovative products and services that eliminate the difficulties and inconveniences of the vulnerable, and revitalize the technology market for the vulnerable.
We would like to strengthen our support for this purpose."