[Daehan Economic Daily = Reporter Kim Min-soo] According to the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the Korea Venture Business Association on the 7th, 29 Korean startups were recently selected for the "SME Venture Business Middle East Expansion Support Program." This program, implemented by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Saudi Arabia in collaboration with the Saudi government, supports the development of Middle Eastern markets with high growth potential but often difficult entry due to regulations, cultural, and religious differences.

This year's inaugural program selected a total of 29 startups across four sectors: Artificial Intelligence (AI) (12), Biotechnology and Health (7), Tourism and Entertainment (5), and Smart City and Construction (5). This competition was particularly noteworthy because officials from key Saudi government ministries, including the Ministry of Investment (MISA) and the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), visited Korea to personally hear the companies' presentations and select the winners. Humain, an AI company chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, also participated in the evaluation via video.

In the smart city and construction sectors, officials from the Riyadh Development Authority (RCRC) and Al Murabba directly participated in the evaluation, with five companies—Integradi & C, Angel Swing, Airability, Mobiltech, and Lumplier—finally selected.

Integradi & C is a construction technology company that developed "IUES," a modular smart cladding system that can complete building exteriors in just three days. By integrating six cladding processes into a single modular cladding, the system is factory-fabricated and then assembled on-site, dramatically improving construction time and reducing safety hazards.

Angel Swing is a drone-based digital twin platform company that leverages 3D mapping data to create virtual sites identical to actual sites, managing construction and safety. Beyond drones, 360-degree camera-based panoramic photography allows for management of the entire process, from the initial excavation stage to the structural expansion and subsequent indoor and outdoor work. Mobiltech, which uses LiDAR scanners and proprietary AI algorithms to provide a realistic digital twin, was also selected.

Furthermore, Airability, a company developing urban air mobility (UAM) solutions based on electric tilt fan jets, and Remplir, a developer of eco-friendly lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries for construction equipment, were also selected.

Representatives from the selected companies held a networking event with Saudi government officials, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, and the Korea Venture Business Association on September 27th. They will participate in investment promotion briefings, one-on-one business consultations, and visits to local companies and institutions in Dubai and Riyadh from September 25th to October 1st.

This support project is significant in that it provides K-Construction SMEs with an opportunity to enter the overseas construction market, which has traditionally been dominated by large corporations.

Ko Bae-won, CEO of Integra D&C, which was selected, said, "Saudi Arabia is pursuing a mega-project that aims for carbon neutrality through 'Vision 2030,' and Integra's IUES appears to have been highly evaluated for its innovative transformation of construction methods and its ability to respond quickly." He added, "Through this program, we will work closely with the Riyadh Development Authority and others to realize K-Construction Technology's expansion into the Middle East."

Park Won-nyeong, CEO of Angel Swing, stated, "Saudi Arabia is pursuing mega-projects, and there is a high demand for drone-based digital twin technology. With this entry, we will expand collaboration with local partners and lead the global market."