Daegu DEEP-BOUND: Korea's Global Deep-Tech Startup Program

Daegu DEEP-BOUND is a Korean deep tech program for companies based in Daegu that want help preparing for overseas markets. The 2026 notice is especially relevant to AI, semiconductor, robotics, mobility, bio-healthcare, and other advanced technology teams that already have a serious product but need sharper global positioning.

This is not a general grant for any international founder. It is a Korea-focused K-Startup program, and the eligibility language points to Daegu-based deep-tech companies or Daegu-based companies commercializing public technology from a research and development special zone. For a qualified AI startup Korea opportunity, the program offers market strategy, English IR support, investor meetings, and overseas proof-of-concept connections rather than a simple cash award.

Fast facts for applicants

Item	Details
Program	2026 Daegu Global Deep-Tech Support Program, DEEP-BOUND
Application window	July 16, 2026 18:00 to August 10, 2026 15:00 KST
Application method	Email submission to yna@ynarcher.com
Who can apply	Daegu-based deep-tech companies in five future industries, or Daegu-based companies commercializing public technology from a special R&D zone
Priority	Daegu Innopolis research companies and advanced technology companies may receive priority
Selection schedule	Document review on Aug. 12, presentation review on Aug. 18, kickoff on Aug. 25, subject to change
Contact	070-4256-4070 / yna@ynarcher.com

<Daegu DEEP-BOUND support flow 1.1>

The key filter is location and technology fit. If the company is not tied to Daegu or to the public-technology commercialization track described in the notice, this is probably not the right program. If the fit is clear, the deadline gives teams enough time to prepare a focused global expansion narrative.

Who should apply

The strongest applicants are not just “interested in going global.” They can name a target market, describe why the product is difficult to localize alone, and explain what kind of partner, buyer, investor, or pilot site would prove traction. That is especially important for healthcare AI, robotics software, semiconductor tooling, industrial data platforms, and other categories where a foreign buyer needs technical evidence before a sales conversation.

The support package includes global readiness diagnosis, company-specific consulting, national market analysis, global strategy planning, English IR translation and redesign, global IR and investor matching, online demo day participation, overseas PoC demand matching, local institution and buyer meetings, and follow-on support. In plain English, global PoC support is the centerpiece: the program is useful if a startup can define what it wants a foreign customer or partner to test.

This context also matters for English-speaking readers who follow the Korean IT market. Korea's regional startup programs are often tied to local industry clusters, not only national policy themes. Daegu's emphasis on bio-healthcare, robotics, mobility, semiconductors, and AI reflects that cluster-based approach.

Application checklist

1. Confirm that the company is based in Daegu or fits the public-technology commercialization route stated in the notice.
2. Map the product to one of the listed future industries, such as AI, semiconductors, robotics and mobility, or bio-healthcare.
3. Prepare the official application form and keep the file name aligned with the notice.
4. Attach the business registration certificate, corporate registry documents where applicable, company introduction material if needed, and privacy consent documents.
5. State the target country, buyer type, pilot hypothesis, required data or equipment, and expected timeline.
6. After sending the email, keep a record of the submitted files and confirm receipt if possible.

The selection schedule is compact: document review on August 12, presentation review on August 18, and DEEP-BOUND kickoff on August 25. The notice says the presentation review and kickoff are planned offline, so a founder or senior operator should be ready to participate in person.

What to watch before submission

The exclusion list covers gambling-related sectors, tax delinquency, financial account restrictions, false documents, infringement of another party's technology or intellectual property, and companies restricted from government support programs. A public-technology commercialization applicant should also clarify ownership, licensing, and usage rights before presenting the business plan.

For AI startups, avoid describing the product only as a model or demo. A better application explains the overseas workflow: who uses the system, what data is needed, what risk is reduced, what metric will prove success, and which partner can validate it. The same discipline applies to agentic AI products, industrial platforms, and software-heavy hardware companies.

The deadline is August 10, 2026 at 15:00 KST. Email submission sounds simple, but attachment mistakes are common. Check the form, consent document, company evidence, and presentation availability before sending.

References

• K-Startup notice
• innopolis.or.kr reference

Korea Open Innovation Grant: 2026 Bottom-Up Startup Checklist

Korea's 2026 Open Innovation Bottom-Up startup program is not a broad public call. It is a closed K-Startup program for startups already recommended by selected demand-side companies or public institutions. For founders tracking open innovation Korea opportunities, this one only matters if your team is building software, data infrastructure, security tooling, platform technology, or an AI product with a Korean corporate partner.

The headline support is a collaboration grant of up to KRW 140 million per startup. The money is meant for developing and validating a product, service, or technical solution with the demand-side partner. Follow-on R&D support may be available through separate Korean government programs, but that part depends on each program's requirements and is not automatic.

Fast facts for applicants

Item	Details
Program	2026 Open Innovation Support, second Bottom-Up call
Application window	July 20, 2026 13:00 to July 31, 2026 16:00 KST
Application channel	Online submission through K-Startup
Who can apply	Startups recommended by selected demand-side programs and meeting Korea's startup eligibility rules
Expected selection scale	Around 50 startups
Main support	Up to KRW 140 million for collaboration work, plus growth programs and possible R&D linkage
Project period	Within seven months, expected September 2026 to March 2027
Program contact	Daegu Center for Creative Economy & Innovation, 053-759-8149 / 053-756-7610

<Open Innovation Bottom-Up applicant checklist 1.1>

For English-speaking founders, the most important context is the referral requirement. This is a Korean startup grant, but it is not designed for overseas companies or unrelated applicants browsing public notices. The applicant must be part of a selected open innovation track and must satisfy Korean startup-law eligibility rules.

Who should take this seriously

The best fit is a referred startup that already has a concrete collaboration theme with a Korean demand-side partner. Examples might include enterprise workflow software, industrial data platforms, cybersecurity products, or AI features that need a real corporate environment for proof-of-concept work. The program is about validating a collaboration, not simply pitching a standalone product.

That makes the application different from a generic accelerator form. The evaluation looks at understanding of the partner's problem, the startup team's technical capability, feasibility of the collaboration plan, and whether the partnership can continue after the subsidized period. Teams used to writing about agentic AI or software delivery should translate those claims into specific milestones, interfaces, data requirements, and decision points.

The notice also allows startups up to seven years old, with possible consideration for new-industry startups up to ten years old. The attached notice lists new-industry areas such as artificial intelligence, big data, service platforms, and cybersecurity. If your company is near the seven-year line, check the official startup confirmation rules before investing time in the application.

Submission checklist

1. Confirm that your company was recommended by one of the selected Bottom-Up demand-side programs.
2. Make sure the legal representative can complete the K-Startup account, identity verification, and company verification steps.
3. If a startup confirmation certificate is required, apply early; the notice warns that issuance can take time.
4. Use the official business plan form. A different form can exclude the application from evaluation.
5. Prepare corporate registry documents, ID verification material, business registration certificates, and startup confirmation documents where required.
6. Press the final submit button before the deadline. Saving a draft is not the same as submitting.

The timing is tight. The notice states that new applications close at exactly 16:00 KST on July 31. If an applicant has already entered the application-writing stage and received a project number before 16:00, some edits and uploads may be possible until 18:00, but relying on that grace period is risky.

Practical risks before you apply

The program has strict overlap limits with other Korean open innovation and deep-tech programs. The attached notice lists projects that cannot be performed at the same time, including other Open Innovation types, Deep-Tech Value-Up, global corporate collaboration programs, and several super-gap startup tracks. A company already moving toward another agreement should check conflicts before submitting the required commitment letter.

The pitch should be led by the startup representative. The evaluation focuses on collaboration understanding, team expertise, feasibility, and sustainability. A strong software or platform startup should show what data, APIs, deployment environment, security controls, and acceptance metrics the partner will use during the collaboration.

Treat the KRW 140 million ceiling as a planning boundary, not the story. The stronger story is a credible path from a Korean corporate problem to a tested product, a follow-on commercial relationship, and, where eligible, later R&D support.

References

• K-Startup notice
• kised.or.kr reference