South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT said on Sunday it selected 18 tasks for its 2026 GovTech startup AI pilot and commercialisation support programme and will begin the project in earnest.

The programme is 추진 based on a demand-driven matching format in which public institutions present on-site needs and GovTech startups with suitable technologies and solutions take part.

After the notice in March, the ministry conducted document and presentation reviews for a total of 82 submitted tasks. It made a comprehensive evaluation of business feasibility, service competitiveness, execution capability and social value, and selected 18 tasks. The selected tasks will enter the pilot phase, starting with a kickoff briefing held from July 7 to 9.

By area, 7 tasks were selected in the field of upgrading public services for the public, including an AI pre-review platform for public documents. In the field of resolving regional and social problems, 5 tasks were selected, including an AI traffic control system to prevent tailgating at intersections. In the field of public infrastructure innovation, 6 tasks were selected, including an AI-based next-generation highway drainage design verification system.

The programme supports GovTech companies in upgrading AI technologies and services to meet actual public demand and in securing pilot references needed to enter domestic and overseas markets. Selected companies will receive step-by-step tailored capacity-building programmes, including business model diagnosis and consulting. The ministry will also provide support for entry into domestic and overseas markets through measures such as participation in exhibitions, meetups with demand-side organisations and investor networking.

Choi Dong-won (최동원), MSIT director-general for AI Infrastructure Policy, said he hopes the programme will apply advanced AI and data-based technologies to complex public issues to further upgrade the quality of public services. He said he hopes private GovTech startups will secure references that will serve as a springboard for entering global markets by taking the public sector as their first customer.