○ 하계 다보스 포럼에서 경기도 스타트업 2곳. 올해의 100대 ‘기술 선도 스타트업(Technology Pioneers)’에 선정
– 경기도 4차산업혁명센터 추천으로 하계 다보스 포럼 참가. 세계적인 스타트업과 협업 가능해져. 추후 글로벌 기업 성장 기대
○ 경기도 4차산업혁명센터, 올해 한국 스타트업 전용 혁신가 커뮤니티 프로그램(‘(가칭)Korea Frontiers’) 시작 예정

구글, 페이팔, 에어비앤비, 트위터는 어떤 공통점이 있을까?
적게는 수백만 명, 많게는 수억 명의 사람들이 믿고 사용하는 제품과 서비스로 산업을 혁신해 온 기술 기업이라는 점 외에도 이들은 모두 세계경제포럼의 ‘기술 선구자 스타트업(Technology Pioneers)’ 프로그램 출신이다.
경기도는 지난달 중국에서 개최된 세계경제포럼에서 도내 기업 두 곳이 ‘기술 선구자 스타트업(Technology Pioneers)’으로 선정됐다고 6일 밝혔다.
‘하계 다보스’로 불리며 매년 6월 중국에서 개최되는 세계경제포럼 ‘뉴 챔피언 연례총회(Annual Meeting of the New Champions, AMNC)’에서는 매년 전세계에서 100개의 유망스타트업을 테크놀러지 파이어니어(Technology Pioneers)로 선정하고 발표한다.
올해 선정된 28개국 100개 스타트업에는 고급 로봇 공학, 맞춤형 우주 발사 서비스, 마이크로 원자로 및 접근하기 쉬운 양자 컴퓨팅 애플리케이션 등이 포함됐다.
한국에서는 경기도 4차산업혁명센터의 안내를 받아 경기도 스타트업들이 지원했고, 로보콘(오산), 하이리움산업(평택) 등 경기도 소재 우수 스타트업 두 곳이 선정됐다. 그 외 한국 기업으로는 부산 소재 나라스페이스테크놀로지가 이름을 올렸다.
스마트 팩토리 로봇 기업 로보콘(대표 반창완)은 자사 로봇 자동화 솔루션인 아론(ARON)을 싱가포르·이탈리아 등 해외에 수출 중이다. 또한 국내 최초 철근 가공 스마트팩토리 기업으로 사우디아라비아의 초대형 건설 프로젝트인 네옴시티 프로젝트 진출도 추진 중이다.
하이리움산업(대표 김서영)은 액화수소 저장·운반 초저온 탱크 등 수소 생태계 전 과정을 아우르는 기술력을 바탕으로 국내외 수소 모빌리티 실증사업 등에 적극 참여하고 있다.
두 기업은 경기도 4차산업혁명센터 추천으로 경기도 대표단과 함께 하계 다보스 포럼에 참석해 글로벌 혁신가 커뮤니티의 일원이 됐다. 앞으로 2년간 경기도 4차산업혁명센터의 지원을 받게 되며 세계경제포럼이 보유한 글로벌 네트워크에도 참여하는 기회를 얻게 됐다.

아울러 나라스페이스테크놀로지는 경기도가 추진하고 있는 기후위성사업의 체계 종합 및 위성 제작회사로 선정돼 향후 긴밀한 협력을 통해 시너지 효과를 낼 것으로 예상된다.
■ 경기도 4차산업혁명센터 올해 스타트업 전용 혁신가 커뮤니티 개발 예정
한편, 경기도와 세계경제포럼이 협력해 올해 초 판교에 설립한 경기도 4차산업혁명센터는 개별 국가 대상으로는 최초로 세계경제포럼과 함께 한국 스타트업 전용 혁신가 커뮤니티 프로그램을 개발 중이다.
‘(가칭)코리아 프런티어(Korea Frontiers)’라는 이름으로 올해 중 선보일 이 프로그램은 한국 내 선도적 스타트업 20~30개를 매년 선정해 세계경제포럼행사에 참여하는 한편, 경기도 4차산업혁명센터가 자체 추진하는 각종 커뮤니티 사업에도 참여토록 할 계획이다.
경기도 4차산업혁명센터가 세계경제포럼과 협력해 추진하는 프로그램은 일회성 자금지원이나 이벤트가 아니라, 국내 선도적 스타트업을 발굴해 커뮤니티를 구성하고, 세계 스타트업들과 협력할 수 있는 기회를 제공한다는 점에서 차이가 있다.

이와는 별도로 센터는 초기 스타트업을 위해 매월 임직원 대상 AI 실무 활용 교육 과정을 운영하고 있는데, 수강 인력 대비 신청자 수가 약 10배에 달하는 등 스타트업들의 관심과 호응이 크다.
경기도가 한국 최초로 설립한 경기도 4차산업혁명센터는 경기도의회의 지원을 받아 경기도 예산으로 설립했지만, 경기도만을 위한 센터가 아니라 AI와 4차산업혁명 대응을 위해 한국 전체의 중요한 거점이 될 것으로 기대된다. 경기도 4차산업혁명센터는 세계경제포럼 약 1천 명의 우수 인력이 만들고 운영하는 최고급 정보․자료를 공유하고 있다.
세계경제포럼 등의 글로벌 이슈 분석 자료와 유용한 정보들을 정리해센터 정보 허브(koreago.net)에 게재하고 있으며, 그 중 선정한 주요 이슈와 정보를 매주 1~3회 뉴스레터 형식으로 발송하고 있다. 뉴스레터는 센터 누리집에서 전자우편만 등록하면 무료로 받아 볼 수 있다.

아울러 경기도 4차산업혁명센터는 세계경제포럼과 전세계 20여개 4차산업혁명센터들과 글로벌 연결 및 협업 창구 역할도 하고 있다.
배영상 경기도 디지털혁신과장은 “AI와 4차산업혁명의 전개 속도가 너무나 빠르고 영향력이 커서 향후 5년, 10년간 어떻게 대응하는가에 따라 100년 뒤 우리 모습이 크게 달라질 수 있다”며 “경기도 4차산업혁명센터의 최고급 정보와 글로벌 네트워크를 경기도는 물론 전국의 기업, 중앙 정부와 지방정부, 연구기관, 대학 등도 많이 활용할 수 있기를 바란다”고 말했다.
세계경제포럼(World Economic Forum, WEF)은 전 세계 정부, 기업, 학계, 시민사회 등 각계 리더들이 모여 세계 경제와 사회의 주요 현안에 대해 논의하고 해결 방안을 모색하는 국제 비영리 민간회의다. 매년 1월 스위스 다보스에서 열리는 연차총회(‘다보스 포럼’)를 개최하고 있다.
From Asteroid Mining to Democratizing Quantum: World Economic Forum Announces 2025 Technology Pioneers Leading New Wave of Global Innovation
World Economic Forum
- The World Economic Forum selects 100 start-ups from 28 countries to join its Technology Pioneers community.
- The new cohort marks a global surge of emerging technologies, from smart robotics and spatial AI to flying taxis and scalable quantum solutions.
- Now in its 25th year, the community has recognized over 1,200 start-ups that have gone on to transform industries and societies worldwide.
- For more information on the Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2025, visit wef.ch/amnc25 and share on social media using the hashtag #amnc25, or #2025夏季达沃斯#. Read more about the 2025 Technology Pioneers here.
Geneva, Switzerland, 23 June 2025 – The World Economic Forum today announces the 2025 cohort of its Technology Pioneers community, a group of 100 early-stage companies from 28 countries driving innovation across industries and borders. Now in its 25th year, the programme celebrates its strongest cohort yet, marked by broader geographical representation, greater diversity beyond Silicon Valley and the rise of more ambitious frontier technologies.
Reflecting wider shifts in the innovation landscape, many of the companies spotlighted are using artificial intelligence (AI) to reach greater scale and sophistication with fewer resources. Several are venturing into less explored frontiers – from asteroid mining and flying electric taxis, to leveraging satellite imagery to transform agriculture and harnessing energy from supernova explosions to locate critical minerals beneath the Earth’s surface.
The geography of innovation is also evolving. While the United States remains the top contributor to the community, Europe’s share has surged to 28% – up from 20% last year – reflecting the rise of strong tech ecosystems across the region. China and India are also emerging as major tech innovation hubs.
“There has never been a more exciting time to dive headfirst into tech innovation. But no one gets far alone – you need a community to move your mission forward,” said Verena Kuhn, Head of Innovator Communities, World Economic Forum. “As we mark 25 years of the Technology Pioneers programme, this global community continues to connect start-ups to the networks and ecosystems they need to scale.”
This year also marks the 25th Anniversary of the Technology Pioneers programme. Since its inception in 2000, the community has championed early-stage innovation and recognized more than 1,200 companies, many of which have gone on to reshape industries worldwide. Alumni include household names such as Google, PayPal, Dropbox and SoundCloud, underscoring the community’s role as a launchpad for ideas and impact.
The 2025 cohort stands out for its concentration of companies developing breakthrough technologies to address pressing global challenges. These include advanced robotics, customisable space launch services, micro nuclear reactors and more accessible quantum computing applications. These pioneers will contribute cutting-edge insights to Forum initiatives over a two-year engagement programme and will also be invited to participate in the Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2025, taking place on 24-26 June in Tianjin, People’s Republic of China.
More information on past winners and informTation on the community can be found here.
The 2025 Technology Pioneers include:
Australia
- Cauldron – Commercializing advanced continuous fermentation technology to unlock price parity for mainstream bio-manufactured goods.
Brazil
- Brain4care – Using AI-based technology to enable timely medical interventions for patients with neurological conditions.
Canada
- Ideon Technologies – Harnessing the energy from supernova explosions in space to image deep beneath the Earth’s surface, transforming how mining companies recover critical minerals.
- Miru – Developing dynamic electrochromic windows that deliver high functionality, experience and energy efficiency for the automotive, transportation and architectural sectors.
Greater China
- Deep Principle – Integrating advanced AI models and quantum chemistry to accelerate the discovery and development of chemical materials.
- GS Biomats – Developing furan bio-based material, a renewable alternative to petroleum-based chemicals, for various uses including biomedical applications.
- HiNa Battery – Producing more sustainable, high-performance, low-cost sodium-ion batteries.
- KaiOS – Providing affordable internet and access to financial services to unserved populations, primarily in South Asia and Africa.
- Lightstandard – Making large language model computing faster and more energy-efficient with photonic computing.
- Noematrix – Focusing on researching and developing embodied intelligence systems and related tools and platforms, which are compatible with diverse hardware.
- Novlead – Designing a molecular technology platform providing available, accessible and affordable nitric oxide solutions for major clinical needs.
- Shengshu Technology – Building generative AI infrastructure that develops native multi-modal large models such as images, 3D and video.
- TRANSTREAMS – Engineering chips and solutions to address the computing power shortages in China during the era of AI-generated content.
- Turing – Providing cutting-edge computing infrastructure and comprehensive AI solutions to drive the future of intelligent computing.
Colombia
- Plurall – Supporting early-stage entrepreneurs in emerging markets with fast, accessible working capital and digital payment solutions, leveraging AI models for risk assessment, collections and embedded lending.
Denmark
- Arcadia eFuels – Developing and deploying technology to produce electro-sustainable aviation and diesel fuels using renewable electricity, seawater, and captured CO2.
Egypt
- Thndr – Offering a digital investment platform with a range of flexible funding methods and educational resources to empower investors.
France
- Ascendance Flight Technologies – Decarbonizing aviation with a hybrid electric propulsion system and hybrid vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft.
- Beyond Aero – Building the first electric business aircraft powered by hydrogen propulsion, as a sustainable alternative to traditional business jets.
- CO2 AI – Helping large and complex organizations measure their environmental impact, identify credible levers and decarbonize at scale through AI.
- Jimmy – Developing a micro nuclear reactor to provide carbon-free, competitive heat for industrial processes.
- Nabla – Reducing clinician burnout by automating clinical documentation with AI.
- Orakl Oncology – Creating a biology and AI-powered simulation platform to revolutionize oncology drug development.
- Phagos – Deploying a sustainable alternative to antibiotics using bacteriophages and AI.
- Quobly – Making scalable, cost-competitive, large-scale quantum computers.
- Sweetch Energy – Enabling osmotic power generation by harnessing the salinity gradient between freshwater and seawater.
Germany
- Accure – Providing predictive battery analytics software to enhance safety, optimize performance and extend the lifetime of battery systems.
- Black Forest Labs – Building generative deep learning models for media, particularly images and videos.
- eleQtron – Developing quantum computers by leveraging trapped-ion technology.
- Tozero – Pioneering the delivery of recycled lithium in Europe by sustainably recovering critical materials from battery waste.
India
- Agnikul – Providing affordable and customizable space launch services.
- CynLr – Building robots with intuitive vision and enabling manufacturers and logistics providers to build fully automated factories.
- Dezy – Leveraging AI-powered diagnostic technology to build affordable and accessible dental care.
- Digantara – Providing crucial operational support to commercial space operators and space surveillance intelligence to global space agencies.
- Equal – Providing an integrated solution that combines identity verification with consent-driven financial data sharing.
- Exponent Energy – Making 15-minute rapid charging for electric vehicles affordable and scalable through an innovative battery management system, charging algorithms, thermal management and a charging network.
- Freight Tiger – Building India’s largest software-enabled freight network to help businesses move goods with full visibility, efficiency and lower costs.
- GalaxEye – Creating a comprehensive, multi-sensor Earth observation system.
- SolarSquare – Helping homes switch to solar in India with its full-stack solar panel systems.
- The ePlane Co. – Developing flying electric taxis designed for intra-city transportation.
Ireland
- Equal1 – Democratizing quantum computing by leveraging existing semiconductor technologies.
Israel
- Fermata – Providing computer vision solutions for farmers to reduce crop losses and pesticide use.
- Illumex – Empowering organizations to run governed and reliable AI agents through unified business data language and to democratize data access to every user.
- LightSolver – Building a photonic supercomputer by harnessing the power of coupled lasers.
- NanoSynex – Offering a rapid and accurate diagnostic platform for bacterial resistance.
- ZutaCore– Developing waterless direct-to-chip liquid cooling for AI and high-performance computing (HPC) data centres.
Italy
- Arsenale Bioyards – Building new lab-to-production infrastructure enabling fast, low-cost biomanufacturing at an industrial scale.
Japan
- Sagri – Leveraging satellite data and AI to transform agriculture through land use optimization and sustainability.
Republic of Korea
- Hylium Industries – Providing safe and innovative liquid hydrogen solutions for carbon-free mobility.
- NARA Space – Building South Korea’s first microsatellite constellation for methane point source detection.
- Robocon – Developing robotics and smart factory solutions for the construction and steel industries.
Luxembourg
- Tokeny Solutions – Building the compliance infrastructure for digital assets in blockchain and fintech.
Mexico
- Allie – Creating closed-loop optimization systems for manufacturing that autonomously adjust production parameters in real time.
Nigeria
- Cybervergent – Providing a platform to automate cybersecurity compliance and risk governance.
- Sabi – Powering the sourcing and distribution of physical goods and critical commodities in Africa.
- ThriveAgric – Empowering smallholder farmers across Africa by linking them to finance, data-driven best practices, and access to local and global markets.
Saudi Arabia
- Intelmatix – Making enterprise AI accessible through industry-specific, context-aware AI agents.
Singapore
- Manus – Automating a wide range of practical tasks for personal and professional use with a general AI agent.
- Rize – Decarbonizing rice cultivation in Asia through scalable agricultural innovations.
Spain
- Crisalion Mobility – Offering sustainable air and ground mobility solutions.
- INBRAIN Neuroelectronics – Developing brain-computer interfaces to treat neurological disorders.
Sweden
- Graphmatech – Developing advanced materials infused with graphene to make large-scale industries more innovative and resource efficient.
- Lovable – Using AI to help users create software and web apps without coding expertise.
Switzerland
- HAYA Therapeutics – Developing RNA-based medicines to treat heart, lung and tissue diseases.
- Neural Concept – Accelerating product design through 3D generative engineering and AI.
Uganda
- Numida – Using credit models and digital underwriting to provide loans to micro businesses.
Ukraine
- Respeecher – Enabling scalable voice cloning across languages and contexts.
United Kingdom
- CuspAI – Using frontier AI to accelerate the discovery and development of materials with specific functionalities.
- Obrizum – Offering personalized digital learning services at scale through an AI-powered platform.
- Oxford Ionics – Building high-performance quantum computers using trapped-ion technology.
United States
- Ammobia –Fuelling the world with cost-effective, lower-carbon ammonia production.
- Archetype AI – Pioneering a new form of Physical AI capable of perceiving, understanding and reasoning about the world through analysing real-time, multimodal sensor data.
- Arine – Integrating cutting-edge AI, clinical expertise and advanced data analytics to deliver medication-based care interventions at the population level.
- AstroForge – Making critical minerals more accessible to humanity by mining asteroids.
- BforeAI – Using behavioural AI to predict and automatically pre-empt malicious campaigns and stop cyberattacks before they occur.
- Candidly – Developing an AI-powered platform to help borrowers manage and overcome educational loans.
- Claryo – Helping warehouse operators maximize operational efficiency by leveraging spatial generative AI.
- Distyl AI – Enabling enterprises to seamlessly integrate AI agents into operations.
- Emvolon – Converting methane emissions into carbon-negative fuels for hard-to-abate sectors onsite.
- Exowatt – Delivers solar power on demand by storing energy and converting it into electricity as needed, helping data centres and the grid run on clean energy 24/7.
- Foundation Alloy – Commercializing solid-state metals technology to make higher performance metals using less energy.
- HAIQU – Developing a new application execution stack for all modalities of near-term quantum computers.
- Hertha Metals – Developing technology to decarbonize primary steel production.
- Hyfe – Turns food processing waste into chemicals that replace petroleum in everyday goods.
- Lumu Technologies – Providing cybersecurity operations capabilities to help businesses control the impact of cybercrime.
- One Bio – Using biotechnology to add anti-inflammatory plant-based fibres to everyday foods.
- Oberon Fuels – Developing innovative carbon-neutral fuels for maritime, propane, and hydrogen sectors.
- Osmo – Combining frontier AI and olfactory science to digitize scent and enhance well-being.
- Outtake – Securing digital identities by detecting and removing harmful AI-generated content.
- Parallel Learning – Providing licensed therapy and instruction to students with learning differences through a digital platform.
- Pavilion – Increasing efficiency in US public procurement with an AI-enabled government marketplace.
- Reality Defender – Offering multimodal detection of AI-generated media to prevent fraud and disinformation.
- RoboForce – Building AI-powered robotic systems designed for high-risk or repetitive work, to enhance efficiency, productivity and safety across industries.
- Rubi Laboratories – Using biocatalysis to transform CO2 into essential materials like cellulose.
- Shiru – Leveraging AI to identify and develop naturally occurring functional ingredients.
- Starcloud – Constructing data centres in space to solve the AI energy challenge.
- Waterplan – Delivering an AI-powered platform to measure, manage and mitigate water risk.
- Workera – Providing AI-driven workforce skills intelligence and upskilling pathways.
- Workhelix – Helping companies identify AI transformation opportunities and measure return on investment.
Uruguay
- Prometeo – Creating a single, borderless banking application programming interface to connect companies with financial institutions across the Americas.
About the Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2025
The 16th Annual Meeting of the New Champions will take place from 24 to 26 June 2025 in Tianjin, People’s Republic of China, under the theme “Entrepreneurship for a New Era”. The meeting will convene over 1,700 leaders from business, government, civil society, academia, international organizations, innovation and media to explore entrepreneurial solutions to global challenges.
About the Technology Pioneers
Launched in 2000, the Technology Pioneers community marks its 25th anniversary in 2025 as a leading platform for early-stage companies from around the world that are shaping the future through breakthrough technologies and innovations. These companies are selected for their potential to have a significant impact on business and society and are invited to engage with public and private sector leaders through the World Economic Forum’s global platform.
The Technology Pioneers community is part of the Innovator Communities within the Forum’s Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The Innovator Communities convene the world’s leading global start-ups across different growth stages from early-stage Technology Pioneers to growth-stage Global Innovators and unicorn companies valued at more than $1 billion.