Seoul government is sponsoring a contest on innovations and models to improve air quality in subways with total prize money of 690 million won ($603,674).

The Seoul Metropolitan Government and Seoul Business Agency (SBA), an institution supporting small and mid-sized firms in Seoul, opened a global contest named ‘Seoul Global Challenge 2021’ last Wednesday to attract companies and research institutions at home and abroad with innovative solutions to air quality problem in subways.

The joint project was launched in 2019 to seek solutions to urban problems and ways to improve the quality of life of Seoul citizens.

This year’s contest has two segments – technology and academic – with a total of 690 million worth prize to be awarded to 25 winning teams. Innovators of any nationality can apply with technology or ideas to reduce particulate matters in subways.

For the technology challenge, the application period runs until Dec. 31 and preliminary evaluation begins in January 2021. The qualifiers will be given a financial support of up to 200 million to develop prototypes from March to August and the final award ceremony will be held in December.

For the academic challenge, participants must apply until November 2020 and the preliminary evaluation will begin in December. The qualified groups should compose and submit papers by September 2021 and the final award will also take place in December.

More information is available on the Seoul Global Challenge website (seoulglobalchallenge.sba.kr).

“We will select teams that propose innovative yet feasible ideas and technologies that can improve the quality of lives of Seoul citizens,” said Chin Dae-je, the chief of the Seoul Global Challenge organizing committee. “In addition to the technology challenge we expanded the Challenge to the academic field so a wider range of companies and institutions have a chance to participate.”

By Choi Mira

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