SK Telecom is expanding co-growth cooperation with startups, including by combining AI technology and business capabilities.

SKT said CEO Jung Jae-heon (정재헌) met eight startup chief executives on Sept. 16 at SKT Tower in Jung-gu, Seoul, to discuss difficulties they face in carrying out projects and ways to strengthen cooperation.

The meeting was arranged to hear voices from the field during startup development and collaboration and to boost synergies between the two sides. Jung has continued direct communication after meeting startup chiefs at MWC 26 in March.

SKT employees who are carrying out joint projects with startups also attended the meeting and shared collaboration cases and experience gained during project execution.

SierraBase, a drone-based AI infrastructure safety inspection solution company, is working with SKT to automate telecom tower safety inspections using small autonomous drones. SierraBase CEO Song-hyun Kim (김송현) said, "We are cooperating with SKT in the area of small autonomous drones to automate telecom tower safety inspections based on AI." He added, "Through this, we will be able to upgrade technology and also discover actual business models."

Jung replied, "If we combine each other's strengths, including startups' technology and ideas and SKT's AI, infrastructure and marketing capabilities, we will be able to create new business opportunities and value in the AI era."

SKT has operated a startup discovery and support programme since 2013. This year, through its startup collaboration platform SKTCH, it is supporting expert mentoring, identifying opportunities for collaboration with SKT, business advancement, participation in exhibitions at home and abroad, and investment fundraising.

Through this, SKT aims to link startups' innovation capabilities with its AI technology and business capabilities and foster 500 innovative companies over five years through 2030.

Jung said, "Startups are important partners for SKT to create new business opportunities and success stories together in the AI era." He added, "We will continue to listen to voices from the field and expand cooperation that can create growth by connecting each other's strengths."