At CES, Samsung will operate a dedicated C-Lab exhibition area to support the startups’ expansion into the global market. It will be located in Eureka Park at the Venetian Expo, the designated startup zone of CES, where participating startups will showcase innovative technologies.

“Samsung supports C-Lab startups through CES as a platform to validate innovative technologies and build momentum for global growth,” said Byoung Chul Lee, Vice President and Head of the Creativity & Innovation Center at Samsung Electronics. “This year, expanded participation from regional startups highlights the continued evolution of the C-Lab ecosystem.”

C-Lab Outside: 15 Startups That Include AI, Robotics and Digital Health

This year, C-Lab will feature 15 startups, including: eight startups directly incubated by Samsung Electronics through the C-Lab Outside program; four from the Samsung Financial Networks-operated Samsung Financial C-Lab Outside; two from Samsung Electronics’ internal venture program, C-Lab Inside; and one that was jointly incubated by Samsung Electronics and the Daegu Creative Economy Innovation Center.

Record Participation of Regional Startups

Since 2023, Samsung has expanded C-Lab Outside to the Korean cities of Daegu and Gwangju, as well as the Gyeongbuk province. The program identifies and supports promising startups to strengthen regional startup ecosystems, then provides workspace, stage-based consulting and opportunities to collaborate with Samsung and its affiliates. This allows startups to grow without relocating to the much larger city of Seoul and helps fosters a sustainable local innovation cycle.

To date, 40 regional startups have been incubated through this initiative, contributing to the revitalisation of regional ecosystems and laying the groundwork for future global unicorns.

At CES 2026, seven startups from Daegu, Gwangju, and Gyeongbuk will participate, marking the largest-ever presence of regional C-Lab startups at CES.

Regional Startup Achievements Continue to Grow

The technological competitiveness of these regional C-Lab startups continues to gain recognition.

Repla, a plastic recycling startup from C-Lab Outside Gyeongbuk, received a CES 2026 Innovation Award for its Puri-Checker, a device that analyses plastic composition ratios.

“For a regional startup, collaborating with a global company like Samsung has been a valuable opportunity,” said Dong-eun Seo, CEO of Repla. “Plastic recycling is a global challenge, and CES provides an important platform to explore international market opportunities.”

The seven participating regional C-Lab startups are as follows:

• Stress Solution (Gyeongbuk): An AI-based personalised mental care sound creation solution
• Deepscent (Gwangju): An AI-powered digital scent solution tailored to every space
• Elevenliter (Daegu): AI-Powered diagnostics for progressive diseases in pets
• AunionAI (Gwangju): A web-based AI solution for automated multilingual dubbing and subtitles with expressive voices and sound effects
• Repla (Gyeongbuk): Enzyme-purified recycled plastic, free of impurities
• Univa (Daegu): An on-device multimodal large language model solution
• 10kM.ai (Daegu Creative Economy Innovation Center): An enterprise AI video production solution that can generate, edit and monetise videos

C-Lab Inside Showcases AI-Driven Internal Ventures

Every year since 2016, Samsung has used CES to showcase projects from C-Lab Inside, gauging global market response and validating business potential.

This year, two AI-driven projects evaluated highly for their innovation, global scalability and completeness will be exhibited:

• ChronoMix: An AI solution for object-centric video composition
• EZ Reco: A generative AI platform that makes electronics recommendations based on expert knowledge

Expansion of C-Lab to Affiliates, Including Financial Startups

Reflecting the expansion of Samsung’s open innovation model across its affiliates, four startups from Samsung Financial C-Lab Outside will participate in CES for the first time. This participation enables startups across various industries to seek new global collaboration opportunities by leveraging Samsung’s incubation experience. The Samsung Financial C-Lab Outside startups are as follows:

• Selectstar (Samsung Life Insurance): Copyright-cleared datasets and an all-in-one AI evaluation platform
• Datumo (Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance): Cyber risk modeling to quantify and reduce the financial impact of cyber attacks
• WINNING.I (Samsung Card): Next-gen identity verification (eKYC) powered by simultaneous fingerprint and face biometrics
• Pillsang (Samsung Securities): Real-time phishing (scam/fraud) detection solution using on-device AI

C-Lab Startups Win 17 CES 2026 Innovation Awards

C-Lab startups have received a total of 17 CES 2026 Innovation Awards, including two Best of Innovation Awards, as announced by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA).

Both Best of Innovation Award recipients – MangoSlab and StudioLab – originated from C-Lab Inside and later spun off as independent startups, reaffirming the technological excellence and growth potential of Samsung’s internal ventures.

Shawn Kwon has been appointed Vice President, Integrated B2B, overseeing the organisation’s holistic B2B strategy. With over 14 years of leadership experience at Samsung Electronics, Shawn has led strategic sales and marketing initiatives across global markets – most recently overseeing Direct-to-Consumer and online business operations for Samsung Electronics South East Asia and Oceania. His previous roles as Senior Director across business innovation, supply chain and corporate strategy, combined with earlier consulting experience at SAP, PWC, IBM and i2 across the US and APAC, bring a wealth of strategic insight and operational expertise. Shawn’s appointment reinforces Samsung’s commitment to expanding its integrated B2B offering and delivering transformative technology solutions across Australian businesses.

Supporting Shawn’s leadership are three key appointments:

• Shane Cook has been appointed Head of B2B Display and Branded Memory. With more than 25 years’ experience in B2B sales, strategy and management across ANZ and APAC markets, Shane will focus on strengthening Samsung’s commercial display and memory offerings, delivering tailored solutions for business customers.

• Helen Chady has been appointed Head of Product – Display and Branded Memory. In her role, Helen will be responsible for leading the division’s Channel and Go-To-Market strategy. Helen brings extensive experience leading category, insights and e-commerce strategies with her experience spanning a range of industries, including previous roles with Samsung Electronics UK.

• Atesh Mani has been appointed Head of Product – Air Solutions. Mani brings extensive industry experience, having previously held senior roles at Mitsubishi Electric, where he led product management, market analysis, and Go-To-Market strategies for a range of innovations.

These appointments are further supported by Mike Lilly, Head of Air Conditioning, and Mark Malcaus, Head of Integrated Sales – B2B, ensuring strong leadership across all areas of Samsung’s B2B operations.

Looking ahead to 2026, Samsung’s B2B strategy will centre on leveraging the power of its One Samsung offering – harnessing the full breadth of its product portfolio to deliver integrated technology solutions for businesses. The strategy expands beyond Samsung’s core Rugged Devices, Pro Display, Monitors and Air Conditioning offerings to incorporate AV solutions and Home Appliances, bringing the innovation Australians know in their homes into professional and commercial environments. With a renewed focus on key industry verticals, supported by dedicated sales teams, Samsung will ensure every business can unlock the full potential of its integrated B2B offering.

“I’m thrilled to join Samsung and lead the Integrated B2B team at such a pivotal time. Integrated B2B represents a new and exciting growth channel for Samsung, and an opportunity to deliver even greater benefits for our customers. With a refreshed structure and an experienced leadership team, we’re well positioned to expand across verticals, deepen partnerships, and deliver the best of Samsung innovation to Australian businesses,” said Shawn Kwon, Vice President, Integrated B2B, Samsung Electronics Australia.

To further support this ambition, Samsung has bolstered its showroom capabilities, expanding its B2B showrooms to showcase solutions tailored to key verticals such as education, retail, display technologies, rugged devices, and a wider Samsung ecosystem room featuring its range of products. This enhanced showroom experience will enable customers to see firsthand the power of Samsung’s integrated ecosystem, demonstrating how multiple product categories work together seamlessly to deliver innovative and scalable business solutions. The expanded showroom will be a strategic priority, providing a tangible environment to inspire and engage partners and customers alike.

Phil holds a 12-year long tenure at Samsung, first starting at Samsung Electronics UK in the former IT division which spanned both B2C and B2B notebook, print and display solutions; and in 2019 relocated to Sydney with his family, to join Samsung Electronics Australia. During his six years leading the Display Brand & Monitors at Samsung Electronics Australia, Phil has spearheaded the subsidiary’s fastest growing division, inclusive of both a consumer and enterprise portfolio which consist of Pro-Display, Monitors and Memory (Storage) solutions. Prior to Samsung, Phil has an additional 12 years’ experience in the consumer technology industry, spanning a mix of sales and management roles.

As proud leaders in innovation, Samsung Electronics Australia continually evolve to better meet the dynamic consumer electronics landscape, and pre-empt our customers’ needs. Phil has a people-centric approach, coupled with rich relationships, spanning all facets of retail and channel. Samsung welcomes Phil to the role, and with his deep industry expertise, he will navigate our business’s continued growth and success.

Samsung Electronics will showcase new projects from its C-Lab at CES 2025 (Jan. 7-10).

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. will showcase new projects that, with the support of its C-Lab program[1], are innovating in the fields of AI, IoT, digital health and robotics at CES 2025 (Jan. 7-10). The company will highlight these 15 new projects at the Venetian Expo’s Eureka Park in Las Vegas, the dedicated area for startups and rising entrepreneurs.

At CES 2025, the C-Lab companies consist of: 12 startups from the C-Lab Outside program, which incubates external startups; two startups from C-Lab Inside, which is an internal venture program for employees; and, one startup that was spun-off from Samsung. At the event, Samsung expects C-Lab startups to assess global market response, strengthen business feasibility and meet with investors.

“CES is an important opportunity for Korean startups to gain a foothold in the global market and increase brand awareness,” said Pilgyu Jeon, Executive Vice President and Head of the Creativity & Innovation Center at Samsung Electronics. “C-Lab will continue to support startups on the journey to becoming internationally recognised global innovators.”

C-Lab Outside: Twelve Startups That Include AI, IoT and Digital Health

This year, C-Lab will feature 12 startups, including 11 startups directly incubated by Samsung Electronics through the C-Lab Outside program and one startup jointly incubated by Samsung Electronics, and the Daegu Center for Creative Economy & Innovation. The 12 startups are as follows:

[AI]

1. DEEP.FINE: An XR solution using Vision-AI and Visual Localisation (VL) for precise digital space creation
2. Mainspace: An online shopping service based on automated 3D interior design technology
3. ENERZAi: A next-generation AI inference optimisation engine
4. Cochl: An AI-based sound technology that can understand any sound like a human
5. Korea Greendata: Revolutionising energy data analytic platform with AI-driven chatbot integration
6. 10kM.ai: An enterprise AI video production solution that can generate, edit, and distribute at scale

 [Digital Health]

1. Riduck: An AI-based aerobic exercise coaching solution based on data from a wearable device
2. LabSD: A digital ophthalmoscope manufactured with upcycled smartphones and a teleophthalmology system
3. Meditrix: A VR-based neuro-biofeedback motion chair and mobile digital therapeutics

 [IoT]

1. Ghostpass: A remote hands-free authentication solution by storing user biometrics on smartphones
2. Pinpoint: Smart building OS that integrates operations and user experiences into a unified solution

 [Robot]

1. Quester: A high-performance hand tracking glove with sensor fusion technology

C-Lab will showcase four local startups from Daegu and Gwangju, Korea, which is a new record achieved through Samsung Electronics’ efforts to promote the local startup ecosystem. Since 2023, Samsung Electronics has expanded the C-Lab Outside program to discover and nurture innovative startups in these regions. The immense potential of these startups has been demonstrated by GhostPass, a startup from C-Lab Outside Gwangju that has won the Best of Innovation Award in Fintech at CES 2025.

“Thanks to the support and coaching of C-Lab Outside, we were able to grow our company in a short period of time,” said Sunkwan Lee, CEO and founder of GhostPass. “We are excited to attend CES 2025 with C-Lab and showcase our solution, which won the CES Best of Innovation Award.”

C-Lab Outside was created in October 2018, and startups selected for the program receive full support — including a business support fund, office workspaces and customised development programs — along with business cooperation from Samsung Electronics.

Two C-Lab Inside Projects From Samsung Employees; One C-Lab Spin-off That Began at Samsung

Since 2016, Samsung has been exhibiting its C-Lab Inside projects at CES to see how the global market responds and to test their business viability.

The C-Lab Inside projects that Samsung Electronics is showcasing at CES have been widely recognised for their innovation, global marketability and completeness — including IoT solutions that provide differentiated experiences in conjunction with Samsung Electronics products, as well as a new conceptual robotics platform. This year’s projects are as follows:

•   GreenFollow: Galaxy-enabled autonomous driving solution for electric golf trolley
•   Modulero: A modular platform for robotics development

In 2015, Samsung Electronics introduced its C-Lab spin-off program, which allows C-Lab Inside projects with high market potential to be launched as fully-fledged startups. At CES 2025, C-Lab spin-off Edint will showcase its mobile-based AI online exam proctoring service.

C-Lab Startups Win 12 CES 2025 Innovation Awards

In November 2024, the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) announced the winners of the CES 2025 Innovation Awards, including the award for Best of Innovation. C-Lab startups received one Best of Innovation Award and 11 Innovation Award Honourees.

C-Lab’s products and services that received honours include GhostPass, DEEP.Fine, Mainspace, ENERZAi, Quester and others. The CES 2025 Innovation Award-winning products and services will be displayed separately at the Venetian Expo in Las Vegas.

The C-Lab program was created in 2012, and since it was established, Samsung has nurtured a total of 912 startups and projects (506 through C-Lab Outside and 406 through C-Lab Inside) so far. Through “C-Lab Family” program, a unique professional network, all startups of C-Lab can also continue to co-operate with Samsung even after graduating from the C-Lab Outside or spinning off from C-Lab.

[1] Started in December 2012, C-Lab Inside nurtures employees’ innovative ideas while instilling a corporate culture in which creativity is at the fore. Since 2015, Samsung has been supporting successful C-Lab projects that demonstrate great market potential, and facilitating their launch as startups under the C-Lab spin-off policy.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today announced the appointment of Mr. CU Kim as President and CEO of Southeast Asia & Oceania. Mr. Kim brings over two decades of leadership experience in Samsung Electronics businesses across multiple geographies, including the Middle East and Latin America. He will be responsible for defining and steering the next phase of growth for Samsung Electronics in one of the most exciting economic regions globally.

Samsung Electronics is committed to long-term growth in the Southeast Asia and Oceania (SEAO) region which is marked by rapid economic development. Underpinning this exciting growth are the digital ambitions of a young and rising generation, and a growing digital economy anchored by e-commerce. At the same time, the cities and industries in SEAO are undergoing continued digital transformation, driven by AI as a catalyst.

Mr. Kim is excited to be in the driving seat in optimising the significant growth potential of the SEAO region, and to bring the Samsung Electronics business and industry leadership to new heights. He said, “I am delighted to join Samsung in Southeast Asia and Oceania, a region brimming with energy and potential. Expanding on our innovative technology and seamless ecosystem, I believe we can further strengthen Samsung’s leadership in AI, as we bring personalised services and impactful experiences to our customers. This is especially important for young consumers, who are deeply passionate about technology and have unique expectations on how AI is shaping their lives.”

Mr. Kim joined Samsung in late 2000, starting his career in the Middle East, and spending about a decade in Latin America. He most recently held the responsibility of President for Samsung Electronics in Brazil from 2022 to 2024, with a proven record of driving innovation and growth, while also deeply enthusiastic about how customer experience can be improved by innovative technology. Prior to that, Mr. Kim also held roles in Samsung Panama (2018-2020), Samsung Mexico (2016-2018), Samsung Brazil (2013-2016) and Samsung Tehran (2005 – 2010).

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today announced it will be showcasing new innovative projects developed from its C-Lab program at CES® 2024, which runs from January 9 through 12. During the showcase, Samsung will highlight 15 startups and projects — the highest number the company has ever featured — at Eureka Park at the Venetian Expo in Las Vegas, the main exhibition space for startups at the world’s biggest tech show.

This year’s CES is expected to feature more than 1,000 startups and attract more than 130,000 visitors from around the world, including business executives, investors and media. At the event, Samsung expects startups from C-Lab to assess global market responses, strengthen their business feasibility and meet with investors.

“The goal of the C-Lab program is to elevate a platform for startups to grow and flourish,” said Pilgyu Jeon, Executive Vice President and Head of the Creativity & Innovation Center at Samsung Electronics. “CES is the perfect venue for these exciting companies and projects to show major tech players that they belong on the global stage.”

The C-Lab program was created in 2012 and since it was established, Samsung has nurtured a total of 872 startups and projects. This includes 475 through C-Lab Outside and 397 through C-Lab Inside. In particular, the 537 C-Lab startups (62 from C-Lab Spin-off and 475 from C-Lab Outside) have raised a cumulative total of $1 billion in investment.

C-Lab Outside: Ten Startups That Include AI, Energy and Healthcare Products

C-Lab Outside was created in October 2018, and startups selected for the program receive full support — including office workspaces, customized development programs and investment — along with business cooperation from Samsung Electronics. Dr.Tail, an online veterinary consultation service, has collaborated with Samsung Electronics to bring its services to Samsung Smart TVs[1] and will be exhibited at the C-Lab booths at CES[2].

In addition to Dr.Tail, Samsung Electronics will exhibit nine other startups selected and supported by the C-Lab Outside program:

• RebuilderAI: AI solutions for fast and easy 3D content creation on smartphones
• Ghost Pass: decentralized remote biometric authentication solutions
• DEEPX: an NPU-based[3] AI semiconductor
• Style Bot: a fashion recommendation service based on user-owned clothing data
• Vsion: a smart window with adjustable transparency
• DolbomDream: a smart, inflatable jacket designed to monitor the health of senior citizens
• 60Hertz: an AI-powered virtual power plant (VPP) solution
• Wrtn Technologies: a generative AI portal service
• NdotLight: a web-based collaborative 3D design platform

“We are excited to be part of C-Lab’s high-profile startup booth at Eureka Park,” said Sunkwan Lee, CEO of Ghost Pass. “Thanks to the support of Samsung C-Lab, we won the CES Innovation Award this year, which I think makes this year’s CES a good opportunity for us to take a step toward going global.”

Two C-Lab Inside Projects From Samsung Employees and Three C-Lab Spin-off Startups That Started at Samsung

Samsung has been exhibiting its C-Lab Inside projects at CES since 2016, and this year’s CES exhibit will feature two projects that are currently being fostered in-house. These projects are from the healthcare and pet-tech sectors and have been highly regarded for their innovation, marketability, and completeness:

• EARS: a healthcare platform that analyzes brain waves captured by earbuds
• DumboCam: a pet training platform that utilizes Vision AI

In 2016, Samsung Electronics introduced its C-Lab spin-off program, which allows C-Lab Inside projects with high market potential to be launched as fully-fledged startups. At CES 2024, three C-Lab spin-off startups — which initially started as C-Lab Inside projects — will showcase their innovative products in C-Lab booths:

• Yellosis: smart toilets and AI healthcare solutions based on measurement of liquid body waste
• Becon: AI-powered hair loss management solutions
• Goose Labs: metaverse home workout app with real-time motion-sensing avatars

C-Lab Startups Win 23 CES 2024 Innovation Awards

In November 2023, the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) announced the winners of the CES 2024 Innovation Awards, including the award for Best of Innovation. Projects from the C-Lab program received one Best of Innovation Award and 22 Innovation Award Honorees.

Samsung is sharing its knowledge of winning CES Innovation Awards and entering the global market with the C-Lab startups, which has allowed them to find success. At CES 2024, 16 C-Lab Outside startups were named as Innovation Award Honorees. As for C-Lab Spin-off startups, one project received a Best of Innovation Award and four were named Innovation Award Honorees.

Specifically, STUDIO LAB — a startup spun off in 2021 — won the CES Innovation Award. The company’s products include Seller Canvas, an AI-based commerce detail page automation service, and Photo-bot, an automated commerce photography robot that combines AI and robotics.

Yellosis and DEEPX — two of the startups being exhibited at the C-Lab booths — each received Innovation Awards in three categories. Yellosis is a digital health startup spun off in 2020 that developed Cym702 Seat, a smart toilet that automatically measures liquid body waste and provides health management solutions. The company also developed Cym702 Circle, a smart toilet that simply measures glucose in liquid body waste in public restrooms. Yellosis won CES Innovation Awards in three categories, including Digital Health,Smart Cities and Product in support of human security.

DEEPX was founded in 2018 and develops edge AI chips for computational processing of AI algorithms such as deep learning-based object recognition, face/voice recognition, image classification and image quality improvement. DEEPX is the first AI semiconductor company to win CES Innovation Awards in three categories, including Embedded technology, Robotics and Computer hardware & components.

[1] Services will be available on Samsung Smart TVs released in the U.S. starting in 2024.

[2] Availability in Australia is yet to be confirmed

[3] A neural processing unit (NPU) is a microprocessor specialized for AI workloads and simultaneous operations.

Despite the current economic climate, global sales of the Galaxy S23 series have been highly positive. TM Roh believes that this was made possible with the coming together of several new mobile innovations developed based on consumer feedback, which sets a new standard in premium smartphone experiences. This includes the advanced camera features in the Galaxy S23 series smartphones, represented by Nightography; smooth gaming experience backed by the devices’ powerful performance; convenient, easy-to-use One UI 5.1; the use of environmentally conscious recycled materials in components of the Galaxy S23 series and optimisation of third-party apps through open collaborations with global partners.

He reiterated that more than ever, consumers are now placing reliability on the top of their list of must-haves. TM Roh said, “Our consumers are looking for more reliable products, reliable brands, and premium high-end products that can provide a good experience.”

Three-pronged Approach to Lead in the Mobile Market

Noting that this user preference trend would be one for the long term, he laid out a three-pronged approach that Samsung is taking to effectively respond to challenges in the mobile market, and at the same time, pave the way for Samsung to reinforce its position as a market leader:

• Premium Quality: With Samsung’s flagship mobile devices at the core of this strategy, Samsung is focused on continuously improving the product quality of all Samsung Galaxy devices, ensuring that they deliver not just on the user experience, but also in empowering consumers to work better the way they want to.

• Enabling New Experiences and Possibilities: Samsung is focusing its efforts on enabling consumers with new experiences and possibilities through their innovative line-up of Galaxy products by continuously creating and providing new innovations and experiences not just in hardware innovations, but also in software and AI, that only Samsung can provide.

For example, Samsung not only pioneered the folding smartphone category but also took foldables mainstream, with the product category growing in popularity globally. This focus on premium experiences is also being driven by features such as the large screen experience on the Galaxy Z Fold series, the enhanced pocketability and selfie experience on the Galaxy Z Flip series, as well as the excellent Nightography and camera capabilities of the Galaxy S23 series, made possible through innovations in AI technology.

A Galaxy for Everyone: Finally, as much as smartphones are now a part of our everyday lives, there are still many consumers out there who have yet to own a smartphone. As such, Samsung wants to make Galaxy devices more accessible to all, and at more affordable price points, to help more users to live their best lives.

Delivering Great Mobile Experiences for All

“At the MX Business in Samsung Electronics, our goal is to provide a great experience to meet the needs of consumers, both now and in the future, through products of various segments,” emphasised TM Roh.

Guided by a firm understanding of the needs and preferences of consumers from different regions and segments, we want to ensure that we are delivering various quality mobile experiences that consumers want. This is especially important in the diverse markets of the Southeast Asia and Oceania region.

“For consumers who are looking for premium smartphones, we offer the Galaxy S series and foldable devices. For those looking for something more affordable yet be able to enjoy mobile experiences powered by 5G connectivity, we have the Galaxy A series,” he explained.

Innovating for the Future

Looking ahead, TM Roh said that consumers across Southeast Asia and Oceania and globally are increasingly expecting a more seamless device experience, centred on the ubiquitous smartphone.

He cites the Galaxy ecosystem, with smartphones, wearables, and tablets, as an example of this unmatched, continued experience that can simplify consumers’ lives.  “We’ve strengthened our entire multi-device experience to allow Galaxy devices to better connect with our TV line and home appliances such as air conditioners, and refrigerators. This is one of our biggest strengths that differentiates the Galaxy ecosystem from competitors. We will continue to build a more powerful and seamless multi-device experience, including strengthening localisation efforts to optimise how technology can blend into the everyday for our users through our SmartThings platform.”

TM Roh believes that there is still much potential to innovate in the mobile market across many areas. The innovation of form factors, such as foldables, will enrich the whole ecosystem, driving the development of third-party apps and new user experiences and that continue to redefine the limits of what a mobile device can do.

He also mentioned how the partnership with Google and Qualcomm, announced at Galaxy Unpacked 2023, will explore new possibilities for extended reality (XR) applications, while the creation of new AI-powered services and content, or intelligent in-vehicle experiences and even smarter home appliances, will also contribute towards smartphone innovation in the years to come.

“We will be kept busy bringing new innovations to our consumers. The whole smartphone and mobile industry will continue to evolve and grow in the future.”

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. has announced it will be showcasing new innovative projects developed through its C-Lab program[1] at CES 2023. To the public, Samsung will unveil four exciting projects from C-Lab Inside, its in-house venture program, and eight startups supported by C-Lab Outside, the company’s startup acceleration program. Visitors can take a peek at the innovative projects at Eureka Park in Las Vegas, the U.S., the main exhibition space for numerous startups from around the world, from January 5 – 8. Samsung expects startups from C-Lab to engage the global market for their projects through CES, strengthen their business feasibility, and have meetings with potential investors.

C-Lab Inside: Metaverse and Lifestyle Projects from Samsung Employees Go on Show

Since 2016, Samsung has been exhibiting its C-Lab Inside projects at CES, and the upcoming projects for 2023 have been highly evaluated in terms of innovation, marketability and completeness among those currently being fostered in-house. And they are as follows:

• Meta-Running, a metaverse platform to learn proper running form
• Porkamix, a metaverse platform that provides an interactive concert experience
• Soom, a new meditation experience with real-time feedback
• Falette, a 3D digital transformation for home fabric products

C-Lab Outside: Startups Showcasing Robots, AI and More to Receive CES Spotlight

Created in October 2018, C-Lab Outside is a startup acceleration program launched to invigorate the startup ecosystem in Korea. Startups enrolled in the C-Lab Outside program are provided with office workspaces, expert mentoring from Samsung employees and digital marketing & financial consulting. Additional support includes potential partnerships with Samsung Electronics and opportunities to participate in influential IT exhibitions such as CES and KES (Korea Electronics Show).

For the past year, Samsung and the Daegu Center and the Gyeong-buk Center for Creative Economy & Innovation, which are parts of C-Lab Outside, have been incubating these startups to develop their technology and be ready to meet the world at CES 2023. The eight chosen startups are:

• NdotLight, a web based 3D design solution
• NEUBILITY, an urban delivery service through self-driving robots
• 40FY, a digital mental health care app service from examination to treatment,
• CELLICO, a micro-bionic eye for patients with retinal disease
• Plask, an AI and browser-based motion capture and animation editing tool
• Wrn Technologies, writing training and content creation services using Generative AI
• Catius, a multi-turn conversational AI companion for children
• Erangtek, an IoT micro repeater for home users to improve call quality

C-Lab Startups Bring Record-Breaking 29 wins of the CES 2023 Innovation Awards

In November 2022, the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) announced the winners of the CES 2023 Innovation Awards across 28 product categories, including Best of Innovation. Projects from the C-Lab startups received two Best of Innovation Awards, and 27 were named Innovation Awards Honorees. As a result, C-Lab took home 22 Innovation Awards in 2022 and seven more in 2023 for their standout technologies.

Samsung Electronics is sharing its knowledge of how to win the CES Innovation Award and enter the global market.

“It is a great pleasure to see that C-Lab startups have proven their technological prowess on the global stage, as evidenced by the most Innovation Awards ever at CES,” said Hark Kyu Park, President and Chief Financial Officer at Samsung Electronics. “We hope that C-Lab startups will be able to more actively target the global market and show the excellence of Korean startups.”

Notably, Dot Inc., which develops devices and software for the visually impaired, was named a CES 2023 Best of Innovation Award winner in the Accessibility category and also named two CES Innovation Awards Honorees. Verses, which developed the Meta Music System for streaming, was named a CES 2023 Best of Innovation Award winner in the Streaming category.

Seven of the eight startups to exhibit in the C-Lab booth –  NEUBILITY, 40FY, NdotLight, CELLICO, Plask, Catius, Wrtn Technologies – won Innovation Awards

Additionally, seven spun-off startups from C-Lab Inside and 11 former C-Lab Outside startups won two Best of Innovation Awards and 20 Innovation Awards.

Samsung Has Achieved Its Goal of Nurturing 500 Startups and Projects over Five Years

In 2018, Samsung Electronics announced that it would accelerate 300 Korean startups through C-Lab Outside and 200 projects through C-Lab Inside over a five years. The company has nurtured a total of 506 startups and projects (304 from C-Lab Outside and 202 from C-Lab Inside) so far.

Samsung recently established C-Lab Family, a unique professional network through which alumni startups can continue to co-operate with Samsung even after graduating from C-Lab Outside or spun-off from C-Lab. It also created C-Lab Scale-Up Committee and plans to gradually expand partnerships and investments for C-Lab Family in the future.

[1]C-Lab (Creative Lab) is a program operated by Samsung to develop creative ideas into business opportunities and stimulate the South Korean start-up ecosystem. Starting in December 2012, Samsung C-Lab Inside was established to encourage Samsung employees to discover new ideas and foster a culture of creativity. Those that have proven marketability will either transfer to an in-house division of Samsung or become spin-off projects the company supports.

With foldable smartphone shipments expected to reach 16 million units worldwide[2] – an increase of 73% year on year – the form factor is rapidly becoming mainstream, and shipments are expected to grow to 26 million units in 2023. The ease of multitasking on a large screen, and the powerful app optimisations for foldable devices, are helping drive adoption among enterprise users.

Benefits of Foldables for Enterprise Users

As companies shift towards work-from-anywhere policies, they are looking to technology for new ways to maximise productivity. Foldables have particularly attracted the financial services industry, where 74%[3] of a sample group of financial advisors say staying connected via mobile apps is important or critical.

“Samsung Galaxy foldable smartphones were created to open up opportunities for new ways to work and explore creativity,” said KC Choi, EVP and Head of Global Mobile B2B Team, MX Business at Samsung Electronics. “This rapid growth in investment demonstrates our enterprise customers’ need for meaningful innovations to enhance workforce productivity.”

The Galaxy Z Fold4 – Samsung’s fourth-generation foldable smartphone – is a multi-tasking powerhouse ideal for business use. Despite its pocket-friendly dimensions, it offers a large, expansive sized screen, making it easier to get things done compared to some smaller traditional smartphone screens.

The Galaxy Z Fold4’s expansive screen offers a large working area, well suited to make the most of features from desktop computers. The perfect tool for juggling multiple tasks and pairs of apps, the PC-like Taskbar enables users to manage, launch and switch between apps, all without interrupting work.

The huge screen space is also a natural fit for working with Multi Windows. The Galaxy Z Fold4 can open up to three apps at once, including two of the same app for side-by-side comparisons.[4] For example, users can respond to Gmail while viewing two Chrome browser tabs, just like working at a desk with multiple screens.

The Galaxy Z Fold4 also adapts to workflow needs. Flex Mode not only provides a hands-free experience for major video conferencing tools, it can now support dedicated e-signature or note-taking capabilities on partner apps using S Pen.[5]

Powerful Partnerships That Enhance the Experience of Foldable Devices

These experiences have been popular across many sectors of businesses and industries. In the current market, competition is fierce, especially in the financial services sector. Professionals need the best tools to help them maintain consistency and routine, even while working remotely.

Their devices must support complex workflows, including alerts, research, charts and portfolios, and give them the power and productivity advantage they need to stay competitive. Working with industry-leading partners, Samsung has enhanced Galaxy Z Fold4’s utility in unique ways, leading to wide adoption of foldables for enterprise use.[6]

According to a recent survey, the Bloomberg Professional app^[7] is the most used financial services app by investment professionals, such as traders, analysts and portfolio managers.[8] It takes advantage of the Galaxy Z Fold’s unique form factor to enable financial professionals to access Bloomberg’s market data, analytics, news, and communications on the go in an intuitive and immersive way, while preserving the user experience and functionality with which they are familiar. On Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4, the Bloomberg Professional app’s adaptive layout provides for easy continuity and multitasking on the go. Users can effortlessly switch from the cover screen, ideal for quick Instant Bloomberg (IB) conversations, to the large screen that makes it easier to read news stories, monitoring real-time market data, browse portfolios or perform chart analysis. This allows financial professionals to do familiar work in an enhanced way on their foldable device.

Image simulated for illustrative purposes. Natural fold on main screen may be visible

DocuSign,[9] which offers the world’s leading e-signature solution and is used by 24 of the top 25 Fortune 500 Financial companies[10] has also been optimised for Android 12L. The Galaxy Z Fold4 takes the hassle out of signing agreements on large screens. Users can now quickly drag and drop email attachments in multi-view mode directly into DocuSign eSignature, seal deals quickly on the go with Samsung’s S Pen[11] and the dedicated Flex Mode signature.

Image simulated for illustrative purposes. Natural fold on main screen may be visible

And, for the financial professionals constantly in and out of the office, DocuSign created a PC-Like experience using Samsung DeX mode. Simply connect the device to a monitor and thanks to DocuSign’s high-resolution support and adaptive design approach, professionals receive the same grade experience for any screen size or orientation.

Samsung also collaborated with IBM[13] to address challenges financial professionals may face helping clients while working from anywhere. IBM iX, the experience design partner within IBM Consulting, worked with a leading financial institution to develop the mobile experience, helping wealth advisors quickly access and manage market and portfolio information. The integration of Samsung DeX and S Pen[13] enables users to interact with data, drag and drop files between apps, translate handwriting to text and even capture digital signatures in a full desktop-like environment on their foldable device. Samsung’s philosophy of openness also enabled the incorporation of other popular applications for video conferencing, client contacts, email and schedules within a multi-app interface.

Image simulated for illustrative purposes. Natural fold on main screen may be visible

Image simulated for illustrative purposes. Natural fold on main screen may be visible

Samsung is committed to working with industry-leading partners to create new mobile experiences, and collaborating more closely in coming months to take advantage of ground-breaking technologies like foldable smartphones.

[1] According to internal data. Figures comparing period from January to October 2022, to January to October 2021.

[2] Source: Counterpoint Research https://www.counterpointresearch.com/foldable-smartphone-shipments-2022/

[3] Source: Coalition Greenwich, “The Modernization of Mobile Apps: Financial Markets Professionals Seek Continuity of Experience.” October 2022.

[4] Certain apps may not support Multi Active Window.

[5] S-Pen Fold Edition sold separately from Galaxy Z Fold4

[6] Compared to Galaxy Fold3

[7] Bloomberg Professional requires separate app installation and a Bloomberg Terminal subscription for use. Availability may vary by market and model.

[8] Source: Coalition Greenwich, “The Modernization of Mobile Apps: Financial Markets Professionals Seek Continuity of Experience.” October 2022.

[9] DocuSign requires separate app installation for use. Availability may vary by market and model.

[10] Source: DocuSign, “About DocuSign” https://www.docusign.com/company

[11] S-pen Fold Edition sold separately from Galaxy Z Fold4

[12] IBM’s apps and services may require separate app installation for use. Availability may vary by market and model.

[13] S-pen Fold Edition sold separately from Galaxy Z Fold4

In cooperation with Statista, Forbes surveyed over 150,000 employees across 800 companies globally, including the UK, Germany, the US and many more.

Samsung has consistently ranked first for the past three years among major global technology companies. This reflects the commitment to providing the best working culture to employees, the pride and satisfaction amongst those working at Samsung, and the company’s reputation in the IT and technology industry. Samsung was also featured as one of Forbes’ ‘Best Employers for New Graduates’.

Respondents who participated in the survey were asked to rate their willingness to recommend their employers to friends and family. They were asked to rate the companies on economic impact and image, talent development, gender equality and social responsibility. Participants were also asked to evaluate other employers in their respective industries that stood out either positively or negatively.

For the survey process, companies are restricted from involvement, including the recruitment of survey respondents, and the anonymity of respondents is guaranteed.

Forbes article: Meet The World’s Best Employers 2022

Forbes ranking lists: World’s Best Employers 2022