- Total of 32 companies (32%) selected since 2022, proving Daejeon’s prowess as an advanced defense city

Daejeon City announced that six local companies have been selected for the "2026 5th Defense Innovation Enterprise 100" public contest announced by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) in October.

The "Defense Innovation Enterprise 100" is an initiative running from 2022 through this year to discover and select 100 outstanding small and medium-sized venture enterprises in cutting-edge national defense strategic industries. Selected companies receive up to 5 billion won in project funding per company over five years, alongside expert consulting and military-assisted testing, to intensively foster them as leading defense corporations.

Among the 19 companies selected nationwide this year, six are based in Daejeon. This brings the total number of selected Daejeon enterprises to 32 since 2022, accounting for 32% of all defense innovation enterprises nationwide. This achievement once again confirms the outstanding technological capabilities and growth potential of Daejeon’s defense companies, as well as the competitiveness of the regional defense industry.

The Daejeon companies selected this year possess advanced technologies and growth potential in the defense sector:

Eurobotics will develop autonomous infiltration and target acquisition technology for multiple humanoids.
SimsReality will develop an AI agent-based operational requirement (ROC) test and evaluation and failure cause analysis platform.
Space Solution will develop eco-friendly contact-igniting bipropellant propulsion system components.
Fiberpro will develop a 3-axis optical gyro technology for low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites.
Nexwill will develop miniaturized and lightweight convergence technology for radars and jammers, alongside cooperative processing technology for fusion sensor networks.
Fine SNS will develop a quartz pendulum-based servo accelerometer technology for control, tactical, and navigation purposes.

Additionally, the city anticipates a synergistic effect when combined with the 3rd Defense Materials, Parts, and Equipment Specialized Complex, which was selected through a Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy public contest last September. As the advanced technology development of defense innovation enterprises expands in collaboration with materials, parts, and equipment companies centered around the specialized complex, opportunities for local technology commercialization are expected to increase, further strengthening the defense supply chain.

Yang Seung-chan, Director-General of the Future Strategy Bureau of Daejeon City, stated, "We hope this selection will serve as an opportunity to accelerate the growth of regional defense companies and broaden Daejeon’s advanced defense industry foundation. We plan to actively support the selected companies so they can translate their technological development achievements into commercialization and expand into domestic and international defense markets."

[ⓒ Global Economic Times. 무단전재-재배포 금지]