Recruitment has begun for the fourth cohort of the “2026 Jeonbuk Special Zone Innopolis Campus (Acceleration Support) Project,” a program designed to help startups and aspiring entrepreneurs in the agricultural, life sciences, and biotechnology sectors within the Jeonbuk Research and Development Special Zone attract investment. Beta Lab, the program operator, announced the call for applications on September 28 and stated that applications will be accepted from September 29 through October 18 at 6:00 p.m.
This project aims to revitalize the regional investment ecosystem by enhancing the investment attraction capabilities of companies that have launched or are preparing to launch businesses using agri-bio and life science technologies within the Jeonbuk Special Zone and by supporting their scale-up. The supported sectors include agriculture, food and materials, health functional foods, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, raw materials, medical devices, and related convergence technologies—all of which are specialized fields of the Jeonbuk Special Zone.
Eligible applicants include startups and prospective entrepreneurs (teams) within the Jeonbuk Special Zone that possess agricultural, life science, or biotechnology-based technologies or business ideas. Priority will be given to prospective entrepreneurs planning to launch a business within the Jeonbuk Special Zone—including Jeonju City, Wanju County, Jeongeup City, and Iksan City—within six months of the application date, as well as startups within the Special Zone that have already secured investment or are in discussions with investors.
The program consists of four stages: application submission, capacity-building training, demand-based mentoring, and support for practical programs. Training is provided to all applicant companies and covers topics such as IR pitching skills, AI utilization, and investment strategies through both online and in-person sessions. Companies selected following an evaluation will receive expert mentoring and consulting tailored to their growth stage and needs in areas such as investment, accounting, IR pitching coaching from professional presenters, AI automation, sales channels, and public procurement.
Practical programs include networking opportunities with venture capital firms and accelerators through Demo Day and private IR sessions, as well as exchange programs among companies participating in the Jeonbuk Special Zone program. Outstanding companies will also be given the opportunity to be considered for direct investment. However, mentoring, IR support, and direct investment reviews will be provided based on each company’s specific needs, growth stage, and the results of internal evaluations.
The common training session will be held in late October for all applying companies, and evaluations of the participants will take place in November. Following these results, mentoring and practical programs will be provided on an ongoing basis, with the support period lasting through March of next year. The evaluation will comprehensively assess factors such as the potential to attract investment, level of participation in the program, the CEO’s capabilities, products and services, and growth potential.
Applications must be submitted via the online application form; after submission, companies may submit additional materials such as a company profile or IR materials via email. Selection may be revoked if a business plan is copied or plagiarized from another party, or if false information is provided in the application. Selected applicants must comply with the announcement and relevant regulations, including the Framework Act on Science and Technology, the National R&D Innovation Act, and the Evaluation and Management Guidelines for the R&D Special Zone Promotion Project, and must participate diligently in programs conducted by the Jeonbuk R&D Special Zone Headquarters and the organizing agencies. When submitting an application, applicants must consent to the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information to third parties; failure to consent may result in restrictions on the application process and certain follow-up support. Submitted documents will not be returned.
