2023. 12. 22.

Press release

Mid-sized and Small Enterprises Shine in 2023 with R&D, Technology, and Management Innovations

Mid-sized and Small Enterprises Shine in 2023 with R&D, Technology, and Management Innovations

<Service Innovation Category Grand Prize> UnionMobile (CEO Lee Hee-seung)

MoneyToday held the '2023 9th Korea Corporate Award' ceremony on the 22nd at the Korea Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul. The Korea Corporate Award is an event that honors companies that have shone throughout the year in various industrial sectors with their unique competitiveness. From October, MoneyToday conducted a two-month preliminary survey and selected winning companies in 14 categories considering technology, distinctiveness, and competitiveness. Despite challenging external conditions, companies with outstanding technological and management innovation capabilities and high external competitiveness were positioned. The selected companies span all industrial sectors including manufacturing, education, energy, mobility, and healthcare. Notably, this year saw a significant number of companies winning in the 'R&D Innovation Category'. This is interpreted as the industry's will to accelerate growth amidst low growth by focusing on 'innovation'. Moreover, companies emphasizing 'innovation' in each industrial sector formed the majority. They are accelerating business innovation through digital transformation (DX) and enhancing market competitiveness through management and technology innovation. Additionally, a high proportion of winning companies are also noted in software, platform, and ICT (Information and Communication Technology) sectors. Examples of this year's winning companies include those providing a research paper search and trend analysis service utilized by universities in 168 countries and organizations like NASA, Tesla, Google, and Apple; a company that developed a 'lens capsulotomy device' for cataract surgery and won three innovation awards at CES 2024; and the first company globally to develop a 'fixed 3D CT-grade portable luggage security scanner' and uniquely received the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) C3 certification for explosive detection systems in Korea. In addition, companies that won consecutive awards are also recording steady growth. For instance, a company that surpassed 240 billion won in cumulative transactions just two years after launching a new car comparison quoting platform; a smart factory company that supplied AI technology to Hyundai Motors, Hyundai Heavy Industries, and SG Global this year; and a Kosdaq-listed company with 33 years of history aiming to be the top AI and big data company in Korea, which recorded its highest-ever performance last year, are among the growing sectors. In his address at the event, Song Ki-yong, Executive Vice President of MoneyToday, said, "All of you here are the leading forces of Korea's future economy. Your efforts and passion are greatly contributing to the development and growth of Korea." He added, "We look forward to you continuing to lead each industry as innovative companies overcoming the current crises and demonstrating entrepreneurial spirit in 2024." Furthermore, EVP Song mentioned, "MoneyToday will continue to dedicate itself to the growth and development of Korean companies. We will stand with you as a reliable partner and supporter." Professor Lee Jong-sub of Dongguk University, who served as a judge, commented, "This year's winning companies have shown outstanding performance in the industry through innovation and differentiation. Examples include rapidly growing companies with remarkable ideas and strategies, companies enhancing product and service quality through the development of the latest technology, and companies emphasizing social responsibility while building sustainable business models." He added, "Especially, many companies have focused intensively on R&D and achieved significant results."