Seoul turns capital into giant test bed for startups

Seoul is throwing open its parks, bridges, hospitals and public squares to startups, betting that the city itself can become ground for the next generation of artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and smart infrastructure technologies. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Thursday that it will recruit 20 companies for the second round of its “Testbed Seoul” program, an initiative that allows startups to test new technologies in real urban environments before entering domestic and overseas markets. Applications are being accepted through July 9. The city said it plans to invest 8.6 billion won ($5.7 million) this year across 43 projects designed to help startups commercialize technologies ranging from AI care systems to smart transportation services for vulnerable commuters. Officials said the program, first launched in 2018, was created to address one of the biggest hurdles facing startups: the lack of opportunities to test technologies in real-world conditions. Under the expanded “Testbed Seoul 2.0” initiative, the city said companies will gain broader access to public infrast