Investments in deep tech, including AI, big data, system semiconductors, robotics, and aerospace, totaled 3.6 trillion won last year in domestic venture capital.
The Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced the 2024 venture capital trends for the top 10 deep tech sectors on the 8th.
The trends analyzed corporations that received investments from venture capital firms and funds under the 'Act on the Promotion of Venture Investment,' with the top 10 deep tech sectors being AI, big data, system semiconductors, mobility, cloud and network, aerospace, eco-friendly technology, quantum technology, bio healthcare, and next-generation nuclear power.
Investments in the top 10 deep tech sectors among domestic venture capital last year increased by about 34% compared to the previous year, totaling 3.6 trillion won. This was the largest scale in the past five years, indicating a steadily growing interest from investors in deep tech.
By sector, investments in bio healthcare and AI accounted for the largest shares of the overall deep tech investments at 33% and 26.7%, respectively, with AI seeing the largest increase (4.158 trillion won) among all deep tech fields.
Looking at AI in three categories, investments in AI software development and supply accounted for the largest share, while the growth rates for AI construction and management, and the manufacturing and design of AI computing and processing components and devices were significant at 113.9% and 290.9%, respectively.
Among the deep tech corporations that attracted investments last year, a total of 722 had records of participation in investment or startup support programs such as the fund of funds, accounting for 75.1% of the total. 682 corporations received a total of 8.807 trillion won through the fund of funds, and 353 corporations were supported with 222.6 billion won in funds and special guarantees via startup support programs.
Minister Oh Youngju said, 'The Ministry of SMEs and Startups has been consistently driving investments in the deep tech sector through the fund of funds, and in the future, the Ministry will enhance venture investments in promising deep tech fields and strengthen policy support to nurture competitive deep tech startups in the global market through systematic implementation of measures for creating a bio venture innovation ecosystem and AI utilization and diffusion plans.'