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Lotte E&C 2026 Open Innovation Program / Photo courtesy of Lotte E&C

Lotte E&C is expanding its open innovation initiative by partnering with public institutions to apply startups' new construction technologies to actual job sites. The strategy aims to enhance productivity and safety while building a win-win ecosystem with startups by deploying future construction technologies including construction automation, artificial intelligence (AI), and robotics to job sites.

Lotte E&C announced on July 23 that it secured up to 620 million won in Proof of Concept (PoC) grant funding through open innovation support programs organized by the Korea Institute of Startup & Entrepreneurship Development (KISED) and the Seoul Business Agency (SBA).

Earlier, Lotte E&C submitted five collaborative projects across three open innovation programs announced by KISED this year, with all five being selected.

Under the "Public-Private Open Innovation Support Program (Mutual Autonomous Exploration Type)," Lotte E&C will conduct on-site verification through January next year in collaboration with "Spanner," a construction automation startup. Through the "Super Gap Startup Program (InnoWave)," the company selected "ReGen T&I" to test technologies for improving residential performance, including reducing floor impact sound in apartment complexes, through December.

Under the "Public-Private Open Innovation Support Program (Strategic Problem-Solving Type)," three projects are being pursued: autonomous transport robots for materials, autonomous and remote earthmoving heavy equipment control, and AI intelligent monitoring. Lotte E&C plans to select partner startups in August and initiate technology verification.

Through its collaboration with the Seoul Business Agency, Lotte E&C also selected three startups. Via the startup program operated jointly with SBA's "Seoul Startup Hub Seongsu," the company selected "SSNDT" (AI-based supervision records management), "FrikTech" (AI indoor positioning-based defect detection), and "Mobility1" (heterogeneous robot integrated control). These companies will carry out technology verification at Lotte E&C's active construction sites through November.

Additionally, Lotte E&C established a dedicated open innovation organization within its R&D institute in 2023. Working alongside all business divisions—including development, building construction, civil engineering, plant engineering, and safety and health—it continues to identify technological needs required on-site.

Beyond simple technology adoption, the company is pursuing joint technology development and joint intellectual property filings with outstanding startups. The policy aims to build a sustainable collaboration model that supports startups from applying technologies on actual job sites through to commercialization.

An official from Lotte E&C stated, "Construction automation, AI, and robotics technologies are emerging as core competitive advantages in the future construction industry," adding, "Through organic collaboration with public institutions, we will discover startups with superior technological capabilities and lead smart construction technology innovation."

                                                                                                               Kim Da-bin