GERI Wins Top Award at the 2024 Startup Incubating Competition for Producing Outstanding Companies

Gumi Electronics & Information Technology Research Institute (GERI, President Choo-Yeon Moon) announced on the 22nd that two startups it supported at the 2024 Startup Incubating Competition won top honors, while GERI itself was recognized as the Best Startup Incubation Center, achieving a remarkable triple crown.

The competition, hosted by the Korea Institute of Startup & Entrepreneurship Development under the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, was held at the Western Chosun Hotel in Busan. Since May, it has brought together professional maker space operators nationwide, providing hands-on maker experiences for the public and contributing to the spread of maker culture.

GERI was selected as an official operating institution for the competition, recognized for its commercialization-oriented technology and outstanding prototype manufacturing capabilities. Through this role, it discovered and supported two promising maker teams: Apolab, a developer of surgical navigation systems, and Altree, a startup building autonomous golf caddie robots.

Over a three-month period beginning in July, the two teams utilized GERI's advanced equipment—including a 5-axis machining center, industrial 3D printers, and 3D measuring systems—to produce functional prototype-level mockups. With additional guidance from design and manufacturing experts, they further enhanced the quality of their products. As a result, Apolab was awarded the Grand Prize, and Altree received the Creativity Award.

GERI itself was honored with the Best Startup Incubation Center Award for its role in nurturing outstanding startups, completing its triple victory.

President Choo-Yeon Moon stated:

"This competition has enabled us to discover and support startups with exceptional technological strengths. Building on this achievement, we will expand commercialization support and remain committed to revitalizing entrepreneurship in the manufacturing industry."