2026년 대한민국 물산업 혁신 창업대전(Startup Water 2026) 참가자(팀) 모집
기후에너지환경부
Can a foreigner apply?
Yes, with conditions
Foreigners are not excluded, but the announcement attaches requirements — residency, a Korean entity, a visa status or a partner. Read the conditions before you spend time on this.
**Idea Track** – Open to the general public: - (Student) Current or on-leave university/graduate students (including team leader and members). - (General) Pre-founders (not yet incorporated) aged 19 or older as of the announcement date. Solo participation is allowed but team composition and capabilities will be considered in evaluation. **Commercialization Track** – Open to founders of startups incorporated within 7 years (company age) as of the announcement date. For corporations, the registration date is the date of incorporation; for sole proprietors, it is the business commencement date on the business registration certificate. **Exclusions:** - Winners of the same/similar item from the 2020–2025 Korea Water Industry Innovation Startup Competition or from other organizations' startup contests in 2026. - Those infringing or involved in litigation regarding others' IP rights. - Items inconsistent with the competition's purpose. **Document screening exemption:** Winners of the 'Water'-related category in the AX Idea Competition hosted by the Ministry of Climate·Energy·Environment.
Funding
₩2000만
Deadline
2026-10-19D-12
Duration
Competition period: August 20, 2026 – November 2026; Commercialization support for winners: December 2026 – June 2027
**Idea Track** (9 teams total, total prize pool 17 million KRW): - Grand Prize (Minister of Climate·Energy·Environment): 1 team, 5 million KRW - Best Prize (President of K-water): 1 team, 3 million KRW - Excellence Prize (President of Startup Promotion Agency): 2 teams, 2 million KRW each - Encouragement Prize (KWP Chair, KWF Chair, UNSDGs Association Chair): approx. 5 teams, 1 million KRW each **Commercialization Track** (9 teams total, total prize pool 85 million KRW): - Grand Prize (Minister of Climate·Energy·Environment): 1 team, commercialization funding 20 million KRW - Best Prize (Commissioner of Intellectual Property Office): 1 team - Excellence Prize (President of K-water): 2 teams - Encouragement Prize (KWP Chair, KWF Chair, UNSDGs Association Chair): approx. 5 teams, 1 million KRW each *Note: Excellence Prize and above receive full commercialization funding; Encouragement Prize winners receive prize money after withholding tax. **Common Incentives:** Winning teams may receive a document screening waiver when applying to become a K-water collaborative startup, plus mentoring, K-T/B linkage support, investment attraction support, and commercialization funding.
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