Daejeon City and the Daejeon Creative Economy Innovation Center are accepting applications from (prospective) startups to occupy spaces at the Daejeon Startup Hub and the Daejeon Social Venture Campus until 4:00 p.m. on October 13. This fifth round of recruitment is for a total of three spaces: two at the Daejeon Startup Hub and one at the Daejeon Social Venture Campus.
The Daejeon Creative Economy Innovation Center announced on September 23 that it is selecting tenant companies to support the stable growth of technology-based startups with innovative capabilities and growth potential, as well as social ventures that pursue social value and sustainable management.
On the 4th floor of the Daejeon Startup Hub, located at 101 Jungang-ro, Jung-gu, Daejeon, the center is accepting applications for one 22.36-square-meter and one 27.90-square-meter private office, each accommodating five people. The Daejeon Startup Hub operates a total of 14 tenant spaces. The tenancy period is six months, from November 1 to April 30, 2027, and tenants may stay for an additional six months based on the results of an extension evaluation. No rent is charged; only variable operating costs, such as electricity bills, are billed monthly. The first and second floors of the building house “Daejeon Creation Lab,” a makerspace equipped with industrial powder 3D printers, resin 3D printers, laser cutters, woodworking equipment, and a motion capture studio.
The Daejeon Social Venture Campus, located on the 4th floor of the Daejeon Urban Development Corporation at 118 Jungang-ro, Jung-gu, Daejeon, is accepting applications for one 4-person room measuring 16.29 square meters. The facility consists of 10 rooms in total. The tenancy period is one year, from November 1 to October 31, 2027, and can be extended twice for six months each time. This is a paid program; tenants must pay 242,484 won in advance for 12 months’ rent based on the 16.29-square-meter space, plus a monthly maintenance fee of 100,280 won. A security deposit of 308,400 won will be refunded upon moving out. The Social Venture Campus is intended for companies in the social venture sector—specifically, technology-based ventures capable of incorporating social value.
Eligibility requires applicants to be prospective entrepreneurs without a registered business as of the announcement date who can establish a business here within six months of signing the lease agreement, or small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and venture companies that have been in operation for less than seven years and can relocate their headquarters or in-house research institute within two months. Companies currently housed in other startup incubation centers, graduates of either facility, businesses in industries prone to pollution (such as noise, vibration, or wastewater), and businesses that are currently suspended or closed are ineligible to apply.
The selection process consists of two stages: an eligibility review and a presentation evaluation lasting approximately 15 minutes. The evaluation covers five criteria: problem identification, feasibility, growth strategy, startup team capabilities, and the need for occupancy. Bonus points are awarded for prior participation in the Daejeon Creative Economy Innovation Center’s or Daejeon City’s startup support programs or social venture support programs, as well as for selection in the Daejeon Creative Lab’s prototype production support program.
The schedule is as follows: eligibility review on October 16, presentation evaluation on October 21, notification of selection on October 27, and signing of the agreement on October 30, with occupancy beginning on November 1. Resident companies will receive office space equipped with basic furniture, as well as expert mentoring on business models, technology development, and market expansion; connections to accelerators and venture capital investments; prototype production support; customized capacity-building programs; and access to shared infrastructure such as conference rooms and fitness facilities.
