Do you know that there are more than 1,250 start-ups in Pangyo Techno Valley? In particular, not only the majority of companies record more than an annual sales of 100 trillion won but also would they be at the forefront of future industries going forward which surprises anyone who looks at the industry outlook of Pangyo Techno Valley. Today, I would like to introduce a start-up which is doing a rather future-oriented project in Pangyo Techno Valley. It is called “Spring Cloud,” which is striving to be a leader in the self-driving vehicle sector.

Spring Cloud (CEO Young-Gi Song) is created in 2017 and specializes in AI-based self-driving mobility services and data analysis services. It has started to provide self-driving shuttle services for the first time in South Korea and it is drawing attention as it will go public in the securities market soon.

Spring Cloud’s founding motto is to contribute to society as a leading company in the self-driving vehicle sector.

The goal of Spring Cloud is to provide “public services” to multiple users of shuttle buses as opposed to personal vehicles. In other words, it combined self-driving technology with public transportation. Although Spring Cloud’s self-driving shuttle buses are slower than conventional buses, they ensure user safety and further technology development is underway to make them widely available. It is only a matter of time until self-driving shuttle buses of Spring Cloud will be distributed to tourist attractions and university campuses.

What sets Spring Cloud apart from other start-ups that develop AI-based self-driving system in South Korea? The company has its own core technology and solutions for integrated mobility services. On top of self-driving shuttle operation, it collects data necessary for self-driving, enables a platform that processes and verifies and provides a service called “Spring go” which makes an integrated control possible, and links to mobile app operation keeping safety and enhancing user experience.

Moreover, Spring Cloud is planning to run a self-driving technology academy based on its competitive edge in self-driving and AI technologies. In particular, an “ADAS(Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) & Global academy” is scheduled to be opened and it is going to be run together with AutoSens in the UK. Despite rising demand for workers who specialize in self-driving technology, there is a lack of people actually working in the field. So Spring Cloud is carrying out this project by giving a course by famous lecturers to help people better understand the self-driving vehicle industry and related technologies from which the field can benefit. I believe that Spring Cloud’s vision could be brought to life which is to become the top company in the self-driving vehicle industry thereby contributing to society.

Based on its technological prowess and meaningful vision, Spring Cloud has implemented a self-driving project while running a total of six campuses and subsidiaries (Pangyo, Seoul, Daegu, Gwangju, Sejong and Ohchang) in every corner of South Korea. Among them, there is an R&D center for self-driving technology in Pangyo Techno Valley. The development of not only relevant technologies but also on-demand services and control services which help ensure convenience is underway. Furthermore, self-driving level 4, 5, mobility operation team, solution development team, business team, marketing and management support team are providing support.

Spring cloud, based on its R&D center in Pangyo Techno Valley is carrying out a “mint project” which is an open self-driving platform services-based vehicles designed to respond to level 4, 5. Level 4, 5 have become more cost-effective and technologically enhanced.

Its focus of R&D is on making self-driving vehicles widely available that can provide users with South Korea’s only total solution and all-in-one services (provide router for vehicles, on-demand paging app, integrated control system among others).

I am looking forward to the next generation self-driving shuttle buses that Spring Cloud will unveil soon and I believe that it is meaningful to see services be developed in Pangyo Techno Valley. There are numerous start-ups in Pangyo Techno Valley which are developing new services and systems that would lead the future industries. I think is a testament to the fact that Pangyo Techno Valley is well-equipped with infrastructure and support to carry out new projects. I would look forward to the rise of start-ups with specialized technologies just like Spring Cloud in Pangyo Techno Valley.

Pangyo Technovalley is an innovation hub for global companies comparable to the Silicon Valley in the US, Zhongguancun in China, and STATION F in France. It is an Asia tech hub with 1,259 IT, BT, CT, and NT companies that possess innovative products and technologies. Located just south of the metropolitan area, it provides the best environment for Korean companies to do business with great transportation access and infrastructure.

Various high-tech companies are located in Pangyo Technovalley, and it is occupied by 64,000 full-time employees, many in their 20-30s. In terms of industry, the companies are engaged in information technology, contents technology, biotechnology, and nanotechnology.

With the support of innovative companies with global capabilities such as Kakao, Naver, AhnLab, Krafton, NCSoft, Nexon, and Hancom, companies in Pangyo Technovalley recorded 107 trillion won in sales last year. Investment and infrastructure growth in Pangyo is expected to continue, with the Metaverse hub entering Pangyo this year.