South Korea’s ETRI-led startups made a powerful impact at CES 2025, winning multiple innovation awards and pushing the boundaries of AI, digital health, and smart technology. With groundbreaking solutions in education, agriculture, and security, these startups are set to redefine global tech industries.
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Korean researchers participated in CES, the world's largest ICT exhibition, to challenge the first year of commercialization of global startups.
Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) participated in CES 2025 with Daejeon Metropolitan City to explore opportunities for ETRI startups and ETRI Laboratory Enterprises to expand overseas and support their global growth.
At CES 2025, ETRI participated alongside Daejeon-based companies by creating five booths in the integrated exhibition hall prepared by Daejeon Metropolitan City.
The participating companies included DigitalScent Co., Ltd. (Lee Hae Ryong), Quantum Eye Co., Ltd. (Choi Bum Suk), Tutorus Labs Inc. (Park Jeon Gue; these three companies are ETRI startups), FARMCONNECT Inc. (Kim Mu Hyun), and Edint Inc. (Won Dong Il; these two companies are ETRI Laboratory Enterprises).
ETRI has been working with Daejeon Metropolitan City and Daejeon Center for Creative Economy & Innovation to strengthen the global innovation capabilities of companies participating in this event. This includes selecting companies to participate in CES 2025, providing support for booth rentals and promotions, exhibitions, and consulting.
Through this, one of ETRI-startups 'Tutorus Labs Inc.' and one of ETRI Laboratory Enterprises 'FARMCONNECT Inc.' in the Daejeon Integrated exhibition hall were honored as CES Innovation Awards.
In addition, one of the ETRI startups, Solarinno (Pak Hun Kyun), exhibited at the KOTRA Korea Integrated Exhibition Hall, one of the ETRI Laboratory Enterprises, ILias AI Co.,Ltd. (Ko Bum Suk, Seo Jung Gook)' , exhibited at the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority booth, and one of the ETRI Laboratory Enterprises, Leadpoint System, Inc. (Baek Eun Ju, Kim Do Hyoung), which exhibited separately, won additional CES Innovation Awards. Thus, five ETRI-born companies were honored with the CES Innovation Awards.
This was an opportunity for ETRI to again confirm the reputation and status of the 'Technology Startup Incubator.'
Looking at ETRI's technologies exhibited at the Daejeon Exhibition Hall with Daejeon Metropolitan City and Daejeon Center for Creative Economy & Innovation, firstly, DigitalScent Co., Ltd., introduced a 'ScentSmart: Sniffing Dementia Early Detection Device.'
This groundbreaking device uses digital olfactory technology to quickly and accurately test for early symptoms of dementia. It is gaining attention as a new alternative for early dementia diagnosis, as it can test for early dementia symptoms within 5 minutes through integrated sensory technology that links smell and imagery.
Secondly, Quantum Eye Co., Ltd. introduced CarFaceID, a next-generation vehicle security technology solution inspired by human facial recognition technology. This technology applies cutting-edge facial recognition AI technology to the front of the vehicle, in addition to existing vehicle recognition methods.
It uses AI technology to identify the unique front features of the vehicle (shape, design, color, etc.). This technology can be utilized in high-security facilities such as government buildings, embassies, military bases, etc.
Thirdly, Tutorus Labs Inc. introduced learnCoach, a personalized, real-time learning support service for elementary, middle, and high school students (K-12).
LearnCoach is an intelligent learning coaching system that goes beyond simply providing the correct answers to help students understand and solve problems independently. It will lead to a new learning paradigm in the global education market.
The fourth company, FARMCONNECT Inc., exhibited the 'Pollination Bee Activity Monitoring Solution (Connect Bee).' This solution monitors bees used for crop pollination, analyzes bee activity, distinguishes between males and females using AI, and responds immediately when an abnormality occurs.
It is patent-pending in 40 countries, including the US and Europe, and has been patented in Korea, Japan, and other countries. It increases crop yields and significantly contributes to sustainable agriculture and ESG.
The last company, EDINT Inc., unveiled a 'Mobile-based AI Online Exam Automated Management and Supervision Service.' This SaaS (software as a service) for mobile-based AI online test automated proctoring utilizes AI computer vision technology.
It is a 100% unattended proctoring SaaS in which AI proctors administer online tests to candidates' phones. This service can be run automatically by simply scheduling a test, eliminating the need for additional operations or monitoring staff.
Meanwhile, the booth, which ETRI first organized with Daejeon Metropolitan City to explore overseas expansion opportunities for ETRI-startups and ETRI Laboratory Enterprises and to support their global growth, was located in the Daejeon Integrated Exhibition Hall at Eureka Park, a startup exhibition center of the Venetian Expo in Las Vegas, USA.
In the future, ETRI plans to provide support for the global innovative growth of ETRI startups and ETRI Laboratory Enterprises in various ways.
Bang Seung Chan, the president of ETRI, said, "We will continue to pay attention to the global growth in innovation of our startups and laboratory enterprises in the future. We are reviewing various ways to show interest in local issues through exhibitions with Daejeon City and to exchange and cooperate with startups regarding technology. We will fulfill our role and responsibility as a technology pioneer leading digital innovation while supporting Daejeon City's innovation growth projects."