Seoul-based leading startup accelerator, SparkLabs has announced the new Internet of Things (IoT) Accelerator in Songdo International Business (IBD) District, South Korea's Smart City scheduled to be ready in early 2015. SparkLabs plans to use Songdo's 35,000 residents as a “test bed” for its companies. SparkLabs' Internet of Things program will be based in Seoul and Songdo and is open to startups from anywhere in the world.
Songdo IBD which is a $35 billion "smart" city real estate development is built on 1,500 acres (6 sq km) of reclaimed land located adjacent to Incheon International Airport on the western coast of the Korean peninsula. Songdo is widely viewed as one of the world's most technologically advanced and environmentally responsible cities, featuring almost 14 million SF of LEED-certified space. In partnership with Korean and U.S. companies such as Cisco Systems, LG CNS and ADT Caps, the city is already serving as a test bed for both public and private "smart" city solutions, services, and technologies.
HanJoo Lee, Co-founder and General Partner at SparkLabs
We believe a critical component of the IoT accelerator will be to provide a test bed for our companies. Songdo IBD provides a robust test bed of more than 35,000 residents, and within one of the most technologically advanced and wired cities in the world.
Stan Gale, Chairman of New Songdo International City Development (NSIC)
We are thrilled to partner with SparkLabs to continue bringing the most innovative technologies, services and solutions to Songdo's businesses and residents. This partnership builds on our existing ecosystem of world-class corporate, governmental, and academic partners. With the IoT accelerator pioneering cutting-edge technologies in Songdo IBD, we are confident that our population of early adopters will embrace the new technologies that are developed by SparkLabs.
