Daedong is recruiting startups with AI and robotics-based agricultural innovation technologies. Daedong said on Thursday it is recruiting startups to take part in the "2026 Daedong Future Agriculture Platform Open Innovation Pilot Support Project" with the Daegu Center for Creative Economy and Innovation.

The programme aims to accelerate pilot testing and commercialisation of future agricultural technologies through cooperation between a leading company and promising startups. Daedong plans to strengthen technological competitiveness in future agriculture and identify new business opportunities, with the goal of applying AI to domestic agriculture and transforming into an AI and robotics company.

Applicants must be startups that are within 7 years of establishment as of the announcement date. Any company with technology and a business model linked to Daedong's future agriculture strategy can take part. There are 8 areas of recruitment. They include AI robotics-based smart agriculture solutions, autonomous driving and autonomous work technologies, electrification, agent AI models for agriculture, agricultural humanoids, high-tech implements, and building and using precision agriculture data, covering future agriculture innovation technologies broadly.

Applications can be submitted online through the DASH website until 4 p.m. on March 19. The company will select 2 firms after a document review and a presentation evaluation. The selected companies will carry out a technology verification and commercialisation pilot project jointly with Daedong business units for about 8 months.

Daedong will provide 40 million won in pilot support funding per company for the final selections. It will also offer practical commercialisation support, including technology verification, product advancement and sales channel linkages, through close collaboration with its business departments. It plans to also provide various linked support programmes from the Daegu Center for Creative Economy and Innovation.

Gam Byeong-woo (감병우), head of Daedong's development division, said, "AI, robotics and data-based future agriculture technology is at the core of the agricultural innovation Daedong pursues." He added, "Through open innovation, we will create tangible results together with startups that have strong technology capabilities and contribute to building a future agriculture ecosystem."