LIG Nex1’s Defense Innovation Fund: ₩25.2 Billion Invested in 13 Tech Companies Over Two Years
The Defense Development Innovation Fund, created by comprehensive defense companies, military institutions, and financial companies, has successfully contributed to the K-defense innovation ecosystem by continuously discovering and investing in authentic tech companies over the past two years.
According to industry sources on the 24th, LIG Nex1 has invested ₩25.2 billion in 13 companies since establishing the first LIG Nex1–IBK Capital Defense Innovation Technology Investment Association with the Military Mutual Aid Association and IBK Capital in February last year.
Starting with Dabeeo, an AI-based satellite image analysis company with unmatched capabilities in Korea, the fund has positioned itself as a specialized investment vehicle in the defense sector. It has also invested in Link Solutions, which manufactures defense, space, aviation, and robotics components through 3D printing. By the end of this year, an additional ₩13 billion in investment is scheduled for several tech companies in areas such as cluster autonomous flight technology, defense AI, and AI surveillance.
The Defense Innovation Fund, operated as a blind fund, invests in promising companies across defense and future-oriented sectors, including AI, robotics, unmanned systems, cybersecurity, aerospace, semiconductors, and new materials. LIG Nex1 and IBK Capital jointly manage the fund.
In addition, the fund aims to foster an innovative ecosystem where the defense industry, investment firms, and startups grow together by supporting the early discovery of promising startups, assisting their entry into the defense market, and facilitating network-building opportunities.
As the battlefield environment evolves and weapon systems become more advanced—centered around unmanned and human-machine integrated systems—securing R&D capabilities based on Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies has become a critical priority in the defense sector. In line with this, the military has set a key goal of establishing an ecosystem of cooperation among the military, industry, academia, and research institutions, and is promoting various support programs to nurture small and medium-sized defense venture companies.
An official from LIG Nex1 said, “We will continue to do our best to ensure that the Defense Innovation Fund serves as a strong priming force for the K-defense innovation ecosystem by combining the Military Mutual Aid Association’s infrastructure and IBK Capital’s fund management expertise with the network we have built while developing advanced weapon systems.”
댓글
댓글 쓰기