The Korea Institute of Startup and Entrepreneurship Development (KISED) announced that it held the finals for the 3rd "Big Tech-Startup Collaborative Platform" (Bio Sector) from October 1 to 2. The initiative focused on matching startups with global biotech giants to solve pressing industry challenges.

The "Big Tech-Startup Collaborative Platform" is designed to foster joint commercialization and research and development (R&D). It leverages the operational needs of large conglomerates and mid-sized enterprises (demand firms) to recruit innovative, technology-driven startups.

For this third edition dedicated to the biotech sector, leading global and domestic organizations presented a total of seven challenges. The participating demand firms included:

•  Google & Raphas (Joint Challenge)
•  Kyungpook National University Hospital, Microsoft, & GE Healthcare (Joint Challenge)
•  Celltrion
•  Roche Korea
•  DB Insurance
•  Seegene Medical Foundation

The three-month program, which began in August, selected two to three startups per challenge based on rigorous document and presentation evaluations. These startups then engaged in preliminary discussions with the demand firms to materialize concrete collaboration plans. KISED evaluated 19 participating startups through a panel of demand firms and market experts, awarding Grand Prizes (7 companies), Excellence Prizes (7 companies), and Runner-up Prizes (5 companies).

Notably, XenoHelix won the Grand Prize for the challenge presented by Google and Raphas: "Establishing Global Standard Data for Skin Characteristics via Dermatological Genetic and Image Analysis." XenoHelix impressed the judges by proposing a collaboration plan centered on non-invasive device-based data analysis solutions.