Samsung Electronics today announced it will showcase new projects that, with the support of its C-Lab program, are innovating in a wide range of fields, including AI, robotics and digital health, at CES 2026, the world’s largest consumer electronics and IT exhibition, running Jan. 6-9.

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 fosters a sustainable local innovation cycle.

To date, 40 regional startups have been incubated through this initiative, contributing to the revitalization 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

Repla, a plastic recycling startup from C-Lab Outside Gyeongbuk, received a CES 2026 Innovation Award for its Puri-Checker, a device that analyzes 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 personalized 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 monetize 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 cyberattacks
• 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.

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 recognized 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

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

 Digital Health

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

 IoT

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

 Robot

• 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 customized 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 recognized 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 Honorees.

C-Lab’s products and services that received honors 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.

The spotlight of this year’s convention was on AI. Samsung Newsroom sat down with the leaders behind these cutting-edge companies, from RebuilderAI, offering an AI solution for 3D content creation on smartphones, to Goose Labs, operating a home fitness platform in the metaverse.

▲ Samsung C-Lab startups took part in CES 2024 in Las Vegas, U.S. on January 9

Goose Labs – Transforming Home Fitness in the Metaverse

In today’s fast-paced world, many struggle with the lack of physical activity. While everyone recognizes the importance of exercise, gym memberships can be costly and at-home workouts often feel tedious.

▲ At CES 2024, Goose Labs presented an AI-based metaverse fitness service that aims to make exercising at home more enjoyable.

Goose Labs, a C-Lab spin-off leader, aims to change this with “FIVA,” an AI-powered metaverse home fitness app. “FIVA was born from a desire to make exercise an enjoyable part of daily life, not a daunting task,” explained Seo-Hee Lee, a representative at Goose Labs. “We use AI motion capture in the app to mirror users’ movements with avatars, and we added a community feature so that people could support each other in the metaverse.” What sets “FIVA” apart is its live classes led by expert trainers in various fitness domains, from traditional weight training to dance fitness and ballet workouts.

▲ In “FIVA,” Goose Labs’ AI-based home fitness app in the metaverse, users can exercise with avatars that mirror their exact movements.

At CES, Goose Labs showcased how users can seamlessly start a workout using only a smartphone to access the metaverse. “You don’t need extra sensors or devices,” said Lee. “And you can exercise comfortably at home without worrying about a tidy house or special clothes.”

CES 2024 marks Goose Labs’ first exhibition event following its establishment under the C-Lab program, making the event more meaningful. “I think our presence here was possible thanks to the various mentoring and growth opportunities we received through the Samsung C-Lab network following our spin-off,” said Lee. “Being part of the ‘C-Lab family,’ I’m hopeful that this event will be even more impactful.”

▲ Goose Labs presented its AI-based metaverse home fitness app “FIVA”

Looking ahead, Lee shared her curiosity about attendees’ reactions to Goose Labs’ technology. “At this exhibition, we’re unveiling our new avatars, gaming features and our Android app,” said Lee. “We’re eager for feedback that can help us improve our services going forward.”

RebuilderAI – Bringing the Real World Into Virtual Spaces

Samsung actively nurtures external startups through its C-Lab Outside program, aiming to share its expertise and bolster the Korean startup scene. Handpicked for this program, startups like RebuilderAI received full support, including financial backing and customized development programs.

RebuilderAI, a 3D technology startup chosen for Samsung’s C-Lab Outside program in 2023, showcased its specialized AI technology at CES 2024. The company received a CES 2024 Innovation Award for its AI solution “VRIN 3D,” which enables users to create high-quality 3D content simply by using a smartphone camera to capture surroundings — eliminating the need for studios or costly equipment. This breakthrough marked a shift toward a future where anyone can easily create a 3D model using a single smartphone through AI technology.

▲ Visitors explored the RebuilderAI booth at Samsung C-Lab’s exhibition during CES 2024.

When Junghyun Kim founded RebuilderAI, metaverse and spatial computing were still emerging at the forefront of next-generation content technologies. “While there was a lot of interest in 3D technology, it still required a lot of time and resources. It also often resulted in large file sizes, making the technology less usable. That’s when I started to wonder how technology could be used to streamline the creation of 3D assets at a desired scale,” he said.

This led to the development of “VRIN 3D,” an AI-driven solution allowing anyone to generate 3D content using just a smartphone and conveniently edit their texture or background online. Visitors at RebuilderAI’s booth were able to see their selfies transformed into 3D product models using the user-friendly VRIN 3D app.

▲ Visitors learned more about “VRIN 3D,” RebuilderAI’s app that uses AI to generate 3D assets with a single smartphone.

RebuilderAI’s solution is used in product manufacturing, training data production, simulations, production inspections and more. Its impact spans multiple industries, including marketing, manufacturing, design, construction and real estate. Currently, the solution is only available to businesses, but the company plans to gradually expand its services, empowering anyone to create 3D models quickly and effortlessly.

▲ RebuilderAI, a 3D technology startup, presented “VRIN 3D” at CES 2024. This innovative AI solution uses smartphone cameras to capture surrounding objects and spaces, generating high-quality 3D content.

“The C-Lab Outside program supported us while we were preparing for our exhibition for CES 2024, where we were able to meet many customers from around the world. Thanks to that crucial support, we could focus all our attention on preparation,” said Kim. “We are in the process of establishing partnerships with domestic and international companies, so I hope people will stay tuned.”

Paving the Way for the Future of AI

Under the spotlight at CES 2024, Samsung C-Lab startups showcased their groundbreaking AI technologies, advancements and vision for the future on a global scale. At the event, these startups earned one Best of Innovation Award along with 22 Innovation Awards.

This year’s C-Lab participants received positive responses for offering diverse AI technologies designed for everyday use. Notable examples included “StyleBot,” a customizable AI fashion recommendation service, and “Yellosis,” an AI healthcare solution based on smart toilet technology for urine analysis.

▲ Samsung presented “Stylebot,” a customized fashion recommendation AI service, at CES 2024.

▲ Samsung showcased its C-Lab startup program at CES 2024, the world’s largest IT and electronics exhibition, in Las Vegas on January 9.

Learn more about StyleBot and Yellowsis in the videos below.

Samsung Electronics 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, 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 TVs¹ and will be exhibited at the C-Lab booths at CES.

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-based² 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:

• ID.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 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 Best of Innovation Award in the Artificial Intelligence category. 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 — were named CES Innovation Awards Honorees 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 was named a CES Innovation Award Honoree in three categories, including Digital Health, Smart Cities and Human Security for All.

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 Honorees in three categories, including Embedded Technologies, Robotics and Computer Hardware & Components.

¹ Services will be available on Samsung Smart TVs released in the U.S. starting in 2024.
² A neural processing unit (NPU) is a microprocessor specialized for AI workloads and simultaneous operations.

Beginning with a keynote speech featuring multiple Samsung executives and employees, the event included a variety of mega and tech sessions covering a range of topics — giving attendees the chance to gain insights from some of the industry’s greatest minds. Participants were able to put their knowledge to the test through hands-on, interactive experiences such as live coding sessions at the Code Lab and discussions on emerging industry trends at the Open Theater. Additionally, attendees connected with developers, creators and entrepreneurs and explored the latest innovations from Samsung and its partners on display at Tech Square, Hacker’s Playground and the C-Lab exhibition hall.

Check out some of the highlights from the event in the photos below.

SDC23 Keynote

Mega and Tech Sessions

Tech Square

Open Theater

Code Lab

Hacker’s Playground

C-Lab

▲ Samsung Electronics’ C-Lab exhibit at VivaTech 2023 in Paris, France.

Samsung Electronics today announced it will be showcasing innovative projects developed through its C-Lab program at VivaTech 2023. VivaTech, Europe’s largest startup and tech event, will take place from June 14 to 17 at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles exhibition and conference center.

Samsung will set up a C-Lab exhibition space in the “K-Startup Hall”¹ to display one project from C-Lab Inside, an internal venture program for employees, and four startups fostered by C-Lab Outside, a program for external startups.

C-Lab projects and startups will be able to gauge the global market response and strengthen their business case in front of a large number of visitors at VivaTech. They can also take part in investment and business cooperation consultations on site.

Global Launch of Relumino Glass Brings Significant Improvements in Usability and Convenience

▲ C-Lab Inside “Relumino”

Relumino, a visual aid solution for people with low vision, was selected as a C-Lab Inside project in 2016 and has since been further developed and perfected by Samsung Research.

The solution, whose name means “to give light back,” consists of the Relumino app, a smartphone image processing application that utilizes the residual vision of people with low vision to improve object recognition, and Relumino Glasses, a glasses-type wearable device.

Having previously showcased its Relumino solution at MWC 2017 and CES 2018, Samsung will introduce Relumino Glasses to the global market at VivaTech 2023 and demonstrate how it enhanced the technology’s user experience to provide greater comfort and prevent fatigue.

“As the 2024 Paralympic Games will be held in Paris, France next year, there will be a lot of interest in apps and services for people with disabilities,” said Junghoon Cho, one of the Samsung researchers who developed Relumino. “This exhibition will be an opportunity for Relumino to take another step forward.”

Showcasing C-Lab Outside Startups in the Fields of AI, the Metaverse and More

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, digital marketing and financial consulting. Additional support includes potential partnerships with Samsung and opportunities to participate in IT exhibitions such as CES, VivaTech and KES (Korea Electronics Show).

Since the beginning of this year, Samsung has been accelerating the expansion of the domestic startup ecosystem by introducing a series of C-Lab Outside programs. Through these efforts, the program is expected to revitalize the local economy, create high-quality jobs and further contribute to the balanced development of Korea.

At VivaTech 2023, Samsung will support the exhibition of selected companies not only from C-Lab Outside Seoul, but also Daegu and Gwangju, giving local startups a chance to expand into the global market.

“Thanks to Samsung Electronics’ support for VivaTech, we are one step closer to entering Europe,” said Nayul Kim, CEO of CLIKA, a startup that was selected for C-Lab Outside Gwangju. “We will continue to promote the excellence of Korean startups.”

The companies participating in VivaTech were selected from a pool of C-Lab Outside startups that are aiming to enter the European market. The four chosen startups include:

• NdotLight — creator of a web-based 3D design solution
• Vsion — maker of super clear PDLC film and reverse mode PDLC film
• QuantumCat — the first company to commercialize gold nanocatalyst technology
• CLIKA — provider of an all-in-one Auto-TinyAI platform that helps companies commercialize AI models quickly and reliably

Fostering 866 Startups and Projects Over the Last 10 Years

Samsung operates C-Lab to create sustainable innovations and contribute to the revitalization of Korea’s domestic startup ecosystem.

Launched in December 2012, C-Lab Inside nurtures employees’ innovative ideas while instilling a corporate culture that puts creativity at the fore. The program supports the development of ideas from all areas of business. Leveraging the success of the C-Lab Inside initiative, C-Lab Outside has been expanding Samsung’s support for new ventures to startups and innovations outside of the Samsung network since 2018.

The company has nurtured a total of 866 startups and projects to date, including 475 through C-Lab Outside and 391 through C-Lab Inside.

▲ C-Lab Outside “CLIKA”

▲ C-Lab Outside “NdotLight”

¹ South Korea has been named “Country of the Year” by VivaTech and is promoting Korean startups at the event. This partnership is entered into with only one country in the world. A “K-Startup Hall” will also feature in the center of the event’s main hall.

Eco-conscious startups believe that groundbreaking, innovative technologies and solutions have the power to combat climate change and create positive outcomes.

Samsung Electronics announced a new environmental strategy in September 2022 to contribute to tackling climate change in partnership with the startup community, which includes identifying and supporting startups that have innovative eco-conscious technologies. As such, Samsung expanded the scope of its environmental support in the fifth C-Lab Outside, the company’s external startup acceleration program, to continue fostering and discovering excellent companies creating sustainable technologies.

In celebration of World Environment Day on June 5, Samsung Newsroom spoke with two startups from the fifth C-Lab Outside program that showcased meaningful technological climate solutions: QuantumCat and 60 Hertz.

The World’s First Organization To Succeed in Commercialization of Gold Nanocatalyst

QuantumCat was established in August 2019 with the vision of “ensuring a sustainable future for Earth and mankind.” The company became the first in the world to successfully commercialize the gold nanocatalyst with its unique, innovative technology. This raises the question — how are catalysts¹ related to the climate crisis?

When exhaust gases from sources such as cars and factory smokestacks cause incomplete combustion to occur, toxic substances including carbon monoxide are produced. For spontaneous oxidation of carbon monoxide to occur, a high temperature of over 600 degrees Celsius (1112 degrees Fahrenheit) is necessary. However, the temperature for oxidation can be brought down to 250 degrees Celsius (482 degrees Fahrenheit) when platinum catalysts, such as rhodium, palladium and platinum, are used. In short, using catalysts reduces energy consumption for the complete oxidation of toxic substances such as carbon monoxide while also effectively preventing the release of harmful gases.

More than 90% of the world’s chemical processes are controlled by catalysts which are also used to purify exhaust gases emitted from cars and at worksites. In addition, more catalysts are expected to be used as carbon neutrality legislation continues to be enacted and environmental regulations become stricter around the world. As such, catalysts have emerged as a crucial material necessary in responding to climate change.

QuantumCat’s gold nanocatalyst is even more groundbreaking than platinum catalysts. While platinum catalysts can accomplish the complete oxidation of toxic substances such as carbon monoxide at 250 degrees Celsius (482 degrees Fahrenheit), the gold nanocatalyst can enable the complete oxidation of carbon monoxide at room temperature (25 degrees Celsius or 77 degrees Fahrenheit). QuantumCat’s technology has significantly reduced energy consumption by lowering the combustion temperature and reducing carbon emissions. As a result, the company has earned cumulative investments of KRW 6 billion (about USD 4.5 million) and widespread recognition from various organizations, including the Ministry of Science and ICT’s commendation, Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute’s Presidential Award, the Innovation Start-up Korea Award and more.

▲ Shinhyun Kang, CEO of QuantumCat from Samsung C-Lab Outside

“Using the gold nanocatalyst means lower energy consumption, making it an economically viable and environmentally friendly solution,” said CEO Shinhyun Kang of QuantumCat.

Developing the Revolutionary Gold Nanocatalyst

Kang developed the gold nanocatalyst technology while researching nanomaterials as a doctoral student at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). While gold is an excellent catalyst, the element has not been commercialized until now because it is less stable, as the catalyst particles tend to clump together. To prevent this from occurring, Kang successfully developed the “nanocage,” in which gold is broken down into nanoparticles and locked in.

▲ Nanocage with a special structure ensures the stability of the gold nanocatalyst

QuantumCat’s gold nanocatalyst can also be used for air purifier products as it can remove harmful substances such as carbon monoxide at room temperature or purify the air through selective oxidation.

Recently, the company established a process for mass production of the gold nanocatalyst, along with continuous efforts to improve the quality.

“The gold nanocatalyst will stand out in the global market when production technology is expanded,” said Kang. “Through Samsung C-Lab Outside, we hope our technology will evolve to be applied in diverse use cases and contribute to solving environmental issues.”

QuantumCat’s mission is to ensure a sustainable future for Earth through innovative technologies that address climate change. Samsung eagerly awaits continued advancements surrounding the commercialization of the gold nanocatalyst and how QuantumCat will benefit the Earth’s health in the long run.

Innovative Technology for Predicting Renewable Energy Generation

More organizations and governments have set their sights on the transition to renewable energy.² However, the amount of renewable energy generated from sources such as solar and wind is highly variable since weather conditions are difficult to predict. As such, determining the exact amount of energy supply is critical in operating a stable power grid.

▲ Jongkyu Kim, CEO of 60 Hertz from Samsung C-Lab Outside

60 Hertz is actively researching ways to solve climate issues and protect the Earth with software based on renewable energy generation prediction technology. “Our power grid can operate securely when the supply and demand of electricity are balanced,” said CEO Jongkyu Kim of 60 Hertz. “If it’s unbalanced, it can lead to problems with home appliances and to more severe disasters such as blackouts. So, technology to predict the energy produced from small-scale distributed generation, such as renewable energy, is critical.” When the supply and demand of electricity are in equilibrium, Korea’s power grid maintains a stable frequency of 60 hertz (Hz) — finding this balance is also the mission of the eponymous startup.

▲ The Sunlight Wind Map predicts the amount of renewable energy generated.

The transition to renewable energy is vital to solving the climate crisis. For renewable energy to become a primary energy source, a virtual power plant software that uses IT to connect and manage small-scale distributed generation can serve as an important tool in accurately predicting the current and future amount of renewable energy. Currently, renewable energy in Korea is generated across the nation in the form of tens of thousands of small-scale distributed generation power plants. Since the amount of power generated is dependent on weather, renewable energy plant management software with virtual power plant technology is required to operate stable power grids. With such technology, 60 Hertz operates the Sunlight Wind Map service, forecasting the amount of energy generated from renewable energy power plants throughout Korea for free. In 2021, the Sunlight Wind Map demonstrated its high value as a climate crisis tool through numerous awards, including the Presidential Award, the Prime Minister Award, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy Award as well as the Ministry of SMEs and Startups Award.

Pushing the Transition to Renewable Energy Further

60 Hertz’s innovative business strategy has proven that this model can be easily adopted by any company seeking to implement distributed generation, such as renewable energy, into its operations.

▲ EnergyScrum

One such company utilizing this business model is 60 Hertz’s EnergyScrum — an energy management platform that comprehensively manages various distributed generation modes, such as photo voltaic and electric vehicle (EV) chargers and energy storage systems (ESS). In recognition of this innovative software, the company was named a CES 2023 Innovation Award honoree in the Sustainability, Eco-Design & Smart Energy category. “EnergyScrum provides various management features, including the prediction of energy supply and demand using AI technology,” explained Kim. “For example, it predicts the amount of energy generated from a solar voltaic power generator installed at a gas station as well as the amount of demand at an EV charging station to help with comprehensive supply and demand management.”

“60 Hertz will efficiently expand renewable energy implementation and usage with our technology,” said Kim. “Through Samsung C-Lab Outside, we will continue to take on challenges and be a leader in solving the global climate crisis with our technology in Korea and abroad.”

With 60 Hertz’s advancements to save the Earth, Samsung looks forward to the day when everyone can easily contribute to the transition to renewable energy.

¹ A material that catalyzes reactions by lowering the activation energy of other materials.
² The shift from utilizing fossil fuels, such as oil and coal, to renewable sources, such as wind and solar.

At this exhibition, a range of future-forward solutions across various fields, including health care and education, are on display for visitors to explore. At this year’s CES alone, startups fostered by C-Lab have been awarded a total of 29 CES 2023 Innovation Awards, cementing their technological capabilities on the global stage.

Read on to learn more about the projects and startups by Samsung’s C-Lab programs on display at CES this year.

▲ Samsung’s C-Lab exhibition showcased a number of its in-house ventures (C-Lab Inside) and supported startups (C-Lab Outside) at Eureka Park in Las Vegas. Startups at C-Lab have taken home a whopping 29 CES 2023 Innovation Awards this year.

C-Lab Inside: Four In-House Projects Taking on Lifestyle, the Metaverse and More

Samsung has been operating its in-house startup fostering program C-Lab Inside since 2012 in order to lead the development of innovative technologies based on creative ideas and the spirit of stepping up to challenges. Out of the projects being fostered within the company, the ones on show at CES this year have been particularly recognized for their innovation, global marketability and overall completeness.

▲ Meta-Running, a coaching platform on the metaverse that helps users run with proper posture, displays the user’s running position in real-time alongside footage of a professional runner adopting the correct posture, helping users prevent injury.

“Most injuries sustained while running come from incorrect posture,” said Donghoon Kang, Creative Leader of Meta-Running, one of the in-house startups on show garnering a lot of attention from visitors to the exhibition. “We feel that harnessing the metaverse and AI technologies can help people run in a healthier and safer manner,” elaborated Kang on where the inspiration came from for this metaverse-powered running project.

Meta-Running can be used with just a mobile device, removing the need for an additional sensor. When a user actually runs, AI technologies will utilize the mobile device’s camera to recognize the user’s body, representing their movements via an avatar in the metaverse. The technologies then analyze their posture and immediately inform them of any changes they should make. Following their run, the user is then provided with a summary of their running postures across each part of their body, as well as a guide on how to correct any wrong posture. As a result, users can work on addressing their posture, muscle strength and any over-pacing issues — three of the main causes of injuries in running.

“We’ve been working day and night to participate in CES, and have also achieved the great accomplishment of applying for a Class A-level patent,” said Kang. “We’ve earned the confidence to say that our efforts have not been in vain and that our ideas are competitive enough.”

▲ Soom, a meditation solution that helps users enjoy more relaxing meditation through real-time feedback

▲ Polkamix, a metaverse concert platform that allows users to enjoy and react to concerts in real-time from the comfort of their home

▲ Falette, an interior service that provides users with 3D visualizations of fabric products, helping them choose the best product before purchasing

C-Lab Outside: Eight Startups Pioneering the Future of Robotics, AI, Digital Healthcare and Beyond

C-Lab Outside is a startup incubating program that was launched following the success of the C-Lab Inside program in order to expand the operational knowledge gained to those outside of the company and to vitalize the startup ecosystem. The startups chosen for the C-Lab Outside program receive a customized incubation program which includes project support funds, digital marketing assistance, financial consulting and more.

▲ NEUBILITY, an urban delivery service using self-driving robots, that redefines on-demand home delivery by providing autonomous home delivery in densely populated areas

▲ NdotLight, a web-based 3D design solution, that allows designers to collaborate on projects even when working remotely

▲ Wrtn Technologies, an AI-based writing practice software, that enables model and language swapping services for businesses looking to expand to global markets

Wrtn Technologies is an education-tech startup that harnesses natural language processing (NLP). At CES 2023, the company has been drawing visitors’ attention with its presentations of its AI writing practicing software, Wrtn Training, which lets users transform their thoughts into writing. “I witnessed many students struggle with expressing their thoughts in writing while I and my team members were participating in an education volunteering program at Korea Scholar’s Conference for Youth (KSCY),” said Seyoung Lee, Co-Founder of Wrtn Technologies. “We developed this AI-based writing practice software after much consideration into how we can make it easier for such individuals to improve their writing skills with the help of technology.”

One of the key factors that inspired the development of Wrtn Technologies has been the emergence of AI and the shift in the definition of creativity that has accompanied it. “Confluent services that combine AI with education are set to become even more important,” noted Lee. “What makes me happy is that Wrtn Technologies has been the first in the Generative AI field following these recent technological changes to receive a CES Innovation Award. Ever since we were selected by C-Lab Outside, we have been able to grow fast, thanks in particular to the commercialization support and marketing assistance we received from the program.”

▲ (from left to right, top to bottom) 40FY, a customizable online mental health care app that provides services from examination to treatment; Plask, a browser-based AI motion capture and animation editing tool that helps designers animate easier; Catius, an AI character capable of realistic conversations with children to help them develop their language skills; and Erangtek, an ultra-small micro repeater that helps enhance call quality

The electronic eye being displayed by startup CELLICO is another highlight of the exhibition. An electronic eye is a device that helps patients suffering from visual impairment to recover their vision across all stages of retinal disease. “In the case of those who have lost their vision due to retinal disease, the movement of their iris, which can be likened to the aperture in cameras, does not function properly,” explained Jeongseok Kim, CEO of CELLICO. “With our augmented reality (AR) glasses, equipped with a camera capable of capturing images and then projecting them to the user through video processing with a consistent amount of light for optimal reception, users get the most out of their time spent both indoors and outdoors.”

▲ CELLICO, the first high-tech healthcare company in Korea to develop a micro-bionic eye for patients with retinal disease

CELLICO’s CES Innovation Award-winning electronic eye technology has already registered a U.S. patent and is currently awaiting the results of review applications to China and Europe. “Honestly, I just about screamed with joy when we were notified that we had won our first CES Innovation Award,” said Kim. “We would like to make the AR-based electronic eye device that we are developing now into a true success in order to help even more visually-impaired people.”

▲The team members of CELLICO, one of Samsung’s C-Lab Outside startups

To learn more about the products and services of C-Lab, which works towards sustainable innovation, visit the CES 2023 C-Lab Exhibition website, and stay tuned to Samsung Newsroom for all the latest news about Samsung at CES 2023.

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
• Polkamix, 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, 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
• Wrtn 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-year period. 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 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.

Starting in December 2012, Samsung C-Lab Inside was established to encourage Samsung employees to discover new ideas and foster a culture of creativity. In the 10 years since its inception, C-Lab Inside has incubated 365 projects and engaged more than 1,500 Samsung employees. This month, Samsung announced support for two other startups, bringing the total number of startups that the company supports to 59.

In the age of digital learning, it’s no surprise that Samsung Electronics has selected two EdTech startups innovating in learning and teaching. The two chosen startups are ‘Piloto’, an AI-driven, parental control app that encourages kids to interact with technology safely and thoughtfully, and ‘EdInt’, an AI-driven service that proctors and manages online exams.

Read on to learn more about C-Lab Inside, the spin-off program, and the latest two startups shaping the future of the education industry.

Piloto: An AI Companion for Keeping Children Safe Online

Piloto is an AI-based training solution that uses a friendly AI character to help regulate children’s screen usage and correct their posture while using smart devices.

According to South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT report, 28.4% of children between the ages of 3 and 9 are at high risk for smartphone addiction. As indicated in the report, the biggest cause of smartphone addiction in young children is that parents do not know how to teach their children healthy smartphone habits.

The Piloto team is led by Ms. Lee Dayoung, who majored in early childhood education. Given that children tend towards ‘animistic thinking’, or the idea that everything in the world is alive, Lee has developed a solution in which an AI character ‘lives’ in a smart device and speaks to the child like a friend.

The AI character helps children develop the ability to self-regulate their screen time by teaching them how to set their own usage time goals. The app also uses a unique natural language processing conversation model to identify the child’s language ability and communicate with them using easy-to-understand expressions.

Going beyond usage time, Piloto also analyzes a child’s body position through a camera mounted on their smart device and helps them correct any harmful posture. After long periods of play, the app even offers eye exercises to help prevent neck pain and vision loss. In addition, the app also automatically blocks any harmful content, so parents can rest easy knowing that their child’s online content is kid-friendly.

Since the early stages of the app’s development, the team consulted with various pediatric psychiatrists and child psychology experts to create content tailored especially to the needs of young children. Through clinical trials, the app has proven to improve smartphone addiction and teach children how to self-regulate their screen time.

“I want to create an environment where children around the world can run and play in a healthy way in the digital world,” said Lee Dayoung, CEO of Piloto.

Piloto is targeted for release in the second half of this year.

EdInt: An AI Proctor for Online Exams

Due to COVID-19, many institutions were forced to rapidly switch to online testing, which led to a rise in cheating during corporate recruitment and university exams. This trend inspired the creation of the Edu-tech startup, EdInt.

Existing online tests are often difficult to set up, and controlling home test-taking environments is nearly impossible. Supervisors also have to manually identify cheating with their eyesight alone, which can be both inefficient and ineffective.

EdInt, an AI online test management and proctoring service, was developed using object recognition technology and motion recognition algorithms to help organizers, supervisors and test-takers conduct online tests conveniently and efficiently.

By scanning their surroundings with a camera, test-takers can easily build their exam environment to match the guide provided by the organizer. Once an exam begins, EdInt’s AI analyzes test-takers’ behavior in real time and notifies the supervisor of any suspicious behavior. Instead of relying on humans, using AI to detect cheating can significantly reduce operating costs. In addition, EdInt provides a detailed report and full test video that can be reviewed after every test.

“We will expand into global markets, starting with domestic public institutions, companies and schools,” said Won Dongil, CEO of EdInt.

Small Ideas, Big Innovations

For more than 10 years, the C-Lab Inside program has been supporting ideas from all areas of business as well as ideas that contribute to society. Since its introduction in December 2012, 59 projects in the program have been spun off as startups, creating more than 500 jobs.

Projects that are selected for the program receive support from Samsung for one year, including office space, research funds and full creative control over the project development.

The C-Lab Inside program has also resulted in numerous innovations being deployed within Samsung itself, such as Galaxy upcycling, Eco-packaging, Lifestyle TV ‘The Sero’ and new features for mobile cameras and Samsung Pay.

As a result, Samsung has been selected as the best company for in-house venture operations by the South Korea’s Ministry of SMEs and Startups for the past two years. Last year, it was also selected as a ‘Best Practice for Implementing Fair Trade Agreement’ by the Korean Fair Trade Commission.

Moving forward, Samsung will continue to invest in the longevity of Korean startups through its ‘Economic Revitalization and Job Creation Initiative Plan’. Announced in August 2018, the company pledged to incubate 200 in-house projects (C-Lab Inside) and 300 external startups (C-Lab Outside) through the C-Lab program over the next five years.

The company is on track to reach its goal, having incubated a total of 426 projects, including 244 external startups through its C-Lab Outside program and 182 in-house venture projects through its C-Lab Inside program.

Pioneering Future Technology

The C-Lab program has a proven history of fostering successful startup ventures. Recently, 30 startups that have been previously spun off from Samsung Electronics’ C-Lab attracted a total of 120 billion won in follow-up investments, including 29 billion won for ‘Linkflow’ and 14 billion won for ‘Welt’. Moreover, two startups launched from Samsung C-Lab’s first spin-off program in 2015, ‘Salted’ and ‘Mopic’, have also gained recent industry attention for their strong, foundational technology.

The first company established as a spin-off, Salted, is generating stable sales in the golf sports industry for its innovative fitness tracking and coaching solution that uses smart insoles to analyze weight shifting, swing data, balance data and posture data. At the end of 2020, the company ranked first in sales in the Amazon golf training product category and is currently maintaining steady growth in the global market by signing supply contracts in the United States and Europe. Recently, Salted also expanded its business to the digital health care field, based on the foot data accumulated from its patented pressure sensor technology. Salted is currently conducting domestic and international clinical trials for patients who need gait rehabilitation, such as degenerative brain diseases and diabetic neuropathy.

Another notable C-Lab startup is Mopic, a company developing light field 3D displays and image rendering software that can produce vivid stereoscopic vision. In the early stages, Mopic started its business as a smartphone cover accessory that allowed users to enjoy the 3D content without glasses. However, the 3D content market didn’t grow as fast as expected, causing difficulties in the business model. Despite these setbacks, Mopic continued to grow and improve its technology. The company is now receiving collaboration proposals worldwide as an enterprise solution, such as being used for stereoscopic images for medical surgery, infotainment for vehicles, video conferencing and more. Considering the recent rise of the metaverse and the increasing demand for immersive content, Mopic is now attracting more attention than ever as a company specializing in 3D content production and implementation technology. Mopic is currently raising a Series B investment.

C-Lab Inside: Four Projects From Samsung Employees To Debut

Since 2016, Samsung has been exhibiting its C-Lab Inside projects at Eureka Park, the main exhibition space for startups from around the world at CES. During the exhibition, the marketability and customer response will be gauged to enhance and further advance the startups’ projects. Those that have proven marketability will either transfer to an in-house division of Samsung or become spin-off projects that will be supported by the company.

The four C-Lab Inside projects that will be exhibited are:

• Piloto, an AI solution that helps children develop proper smartphone usage habits
• PROBA, an AI-based online exam service for administrators, test-takers and supervisors
• innovision, a nursery mobile for early detection of infant strabismus
• ZamStar, a smart electric guitar that makes learning guitar easy with LED guides

C-Lab Outside: Nine Startups That Are Ready for the Global Market

Created in October 2018, C-Lab Outside is a startup acceleration program that was launched to invigorate the startup ecosystem in South Korea. Startups enrolled in the C-Lab Outside program are provided with office workspaces, expert mentoring from Samsung employees, participation in global IT exhibitions, and financial and investor relations support.

Five startups that have been incubated directly by Samsung over the past year and four startups from the Daegu Center and the Gyeong-buk Center for Creative Economy & Innovation that are part of C-Lab Outside will also participate in CES 2022. They include:

• Petnow, an AI-based pet biometric recognition solution
• Digisonic, a 3D immersive audio solution for mobile devices
• Verses, an interactive metaverse music app
• bitsensing, an array of imaging radar technology solutions for autonomous driving and smart cities
• SELECTSTAR, an AI-based data collection and labelling platform
• RGT Inc., a multifunctional modular serving robot
• MoreDream Inc., an input system to improve accessibility and productivity for the visually impaired
• Yellowknife, a vehicle display customization platform
• MONIT, a smart diaper care solution for elderly patients

Furthermore, nine startups that have been spun off from C-Lab Inside also plan to set up their own exhibition booths at CES 2022. The spun-off startups that will exhibit include EVAR, Prinker Korea Inc., lululab and Linkface.

C-Lab Startups Recognized as Honorees and Best of Innovation at CES 2022

In November of 2021, the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) announced CES 2022 Innovation Awards across 27 product categories, including those recognized as Best of Innovation. Projects from the C-Lab startups received one Best of Innovation award and 21 Innovation Awards Honoree nods for their standout technologies.

Notably, Petnow, which developed an AI-based biometric recognition solution for pets, was named a CES 2022 Best of Innovation award winner in the Software & Mobile Apps category. The Petnow app uses a camera to automatically detect, photograph and register a dog’s nose print, making it easier to find lost dogs.

C-Lab’s other award-winning products and services include: Digisonic, EVAR, lululab, Verses, bitsensing, Linkface, LUPLE, BLUEFEEL, Prinker Korea Inc, etc. The CES 2022 Innovation Award-winning products will be displayed separately at the Venetian Expo in Las Vegas.

“With the support of the C-Lab program, these 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 the startups that had difficulty expanding their businesses due to the pandemic will be able to target the global market more actively, starting with CES 2022.”

Samsung Plans To Have Nurtured 500 Startups by Next Year

Started in December 2012, C-Lab Inside nurtures employees’ innovative ideas while instilling a corporate culture in which creativity is at the fore. The program supports the development of ideas from all areas of the business. 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. Leveraging the success of the C-Lab Inside initiative, C-Lab Outside has been expanding Samsung’s support for new ventures to startups and innovations outside of the Samsung network since 2018.

Samsung Electronics had previously announced that it would accelerate 300 Korean startups through C-Lab Outside and 200 projects through C-Lab Inside over a five-year period. The company has nurtured a total of 406 startups (244 from C-Lab Outside and 162 from C-Lab Inside) so far, and plans to reach 500 by next year.

Samsung Electronics will demonstrate its C-Lab products and services from January 5th through the 8th at the C-Lab exhibition booth on the first floor of Hall G at Venetian Expo (formerly Sands Expo), Eureka Park. Visitors who are unable to visit the site in person will be able to watch product videos online from today until January 30th on the C-Lab website (https://www.claboutside.com/ces2022), and will also be offered chances to communicate with the startups.

[C-Lab Spin-Offs Participating in CES 2022]

Samsung Electronics today announced that the company ranked fourth out of 150 companies in the World Benchmarking Alliance (WBA)’s Digital Inclusion Benchmark in 2021. Samsung’s consistent, multifaceted efforts to be digitally responsible have earned the achievement from global tenth place in 2020 to fourth in this year.

The WBA represents an alliance forged among more than 200 global, regional and local organizations to shape the private sector’s contributions to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. The WBA examines companies with a focus on seven key categories, including human rights, the environment and digital inclusion. The WBA launched its very first Digital Inclusion Benchmark last year, which evaluated companies’ progress in improving access to technology, enhancing digital skills, fostering trustworthy use and innovating both openly and ethically.

Samsung was recognized for its efforts on digital responsibility as the company had established its artificial intelligence (AI) ethics principles. Having recognized the importance of emphasizing social and ethical responsibility in technology development, Samsung established a set of AI ethics principles to put into practice.

Samsung strives for accessibility in its products, enhancing them with technologies that make it easier for all users to utilize them. WBA recognized Samsung’s SeeColors app¹ that makes color adjustments to aid those with color vision deficiency (CVD) and helps them enjoy a better viewing experience with optimized colors on Samsung TVs.

The company’s C-lab Outside program in Korea that is designed to foster the startup ecosystem was singled out for its social contribution activities, while Samsung’s devotion to support digital education also garnered recognition. With its vision of ‘Together for Tomorrow! Enabling People’, Samsung has been and will continue to operate social contribution activities focusing on youth education and growth for their sustainable development. Samsung operates its global Corporate Citizenship Program, the Samsung Innovation Campus (SIC) to provide support in the form of job opportunities in future technology fields.

As a company that develops products and technologies that enhance users’ lives, Samsung is committed to promoting digital responsibility. Going forward, the company will continue to explore ways to make it easier for people to access and utilize a wide range of convenient and meaningful digital technologies.

¹ This app is not intended for use in the diagnosis of disease or other conditions, or in the cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of disease or medical problem. Any information found, acquired or accessed through this app is made available for your convenience and should not be treated as medical advice.

Started in December 2012, Samsung C-Lab Inside nurtures employees’ innovative ideas while instilling a corporate culture in which creativity is at the fore. Since its inception, C-Lab Inside has incubated 339 projects with the participation of 1395 employees. This May, Samsung announced support for four other startups, bringing the total of startups that the company supports to 57 along with the participation of 199 employees.

Read on to learn more about C-Lab Inside, the spin-off program, and the latest five startups to be selected for it below.

Nurturing Autonomy and Innovation

Once ideas are selected as C-Lab Inside projects, employees are given up to one full year away from their day-to-day roles at Samsung to focus on implementing their ideas, as well as a research fund, dedicated spaces and the autonomy to create their own work environment. If the outcomes of the projects are transferred to an in-house division for further development, the members receive a special incentive as a reward.

Since 2015, Samsung has been supporting C-Lab Inside projects with the potential not just to transfer into an in-house division, but also with greater market potential as a C-Lab spin-off in order to help activate the Korean startup ecosystem. Samsung supports these spin-off companies with seed money investment, a 3-month mentoring program about finance, law, investment and more, and business consulting for company building and setting business plans.

The founders of a startup selected for the C-Lab Inside spin-off program are given severance pay as well as a business foundation fund. In addition, they get the opportunity to return to Samsung Electronics within five years after spin-off. “We are happy to support these employees with entrepreneurial mindsets as they open a new chapter of their lives,” said Yoon-ho Choi, President & Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at Samsung Electronics. “We look forward to seeing these new startups becoming truly innovative startups that bring changes to everyone’s daily lives.”

Simplifying Diagnoses: Diavision

Founded by biotechnology and software experts from Samsung Electronics’ Health & Medical Equipment Business division, the Diavison startup developed a COVID-19 quick diagnosis kit reading solution that harnesses a smartphone camera and image analysis technology.

Diavision’s idea was initially proposed at Samsung’s Grand Discussion to Overcome COVID-19, hosted by Choi, on Samsung’s company-wide intelligence platform MOSAIC last April when the pandemic was rapidly emerging as a global issue. While 1,620 ideas were proposed by Samsung employees harnessing their own as well as the company’s technical skills and capabilities, Diavision was selected as an excellent idea, and subsequently selected as a C-Lab Inside project.

Diavision’s strategy focused on the issue that, thanks to the rapid spread of COVID-19 worldwide, there was a significant increase in demand for accurate and rapid diagnostic kits. The COVID-19 rapid diagnosis kit has the advantage of being easily used by anyone, but as the infection is visually determined, concerns surrounding misjudgment can arise if the results are blurred. Therefore, the U.S. FDA recommends distributing inspection equipment together for accurate determination, but it is difficult to access this at home, small hospitals, clinics or pharmacies due to its price and more complicated operation methods.

Diavision solved this problem using smartphones and image analysis technology. When the results of the diagnostic kit are photographed with a smartphone camera, the number of viruses is quantified through image analysis using self-developed digital signal processing technology – meaning that results can be determined even when it is difficult to distinguish with the naked eye. In clinical trials at domestic medical institutions, it was verified that the accuracy of Diavision’s solution was much higher than that of discriminating solely with the eyes.

Diavision’s solution works not only for COVID-19 diagnosis, but also for neutralizing antibody diagnosis kits that check antibody production after vaccination. As a result, Diavision has been receiving requests for cooperation from the bio-industry, including diagnostic kit manufacturers, even before the spin-off announcement. What’s more, Diavision’s solution has the potential to be expanded to a wide range of tests that use rapid diagnostic kits, including the flu and metabolic diseases.

Easier Customer Interactions: Cheeseade

Following the rise of smaller, unmanned stores during the COVID-19 pandemic to help promote social distancing measures, startup Cheeseade has developed a solution that harnesses visible light communication (LiFi) to reduce the burden on these smaller stores.

The solution consists of a visible light transmission device and a smartphone app for reception that can be simply attached to existing kiosks or lighting. It allows customers to check product information and make their order using this LiFi device simply by turning on the smartphone app at the store. Store operators will be able to manage customer data by simply installing this inexpensive and simple solution, allowing them to continue operating as smart unmanned stores.

An Intelligent Dance Gamer: Goose Lab

Goose Lab, a startup founded by Samsung mobile phone UX designers and AI experts with 14 years of dance experience, has developed an AI dance game platform that is based on motion recognition technology.

While in the C-Lab Inside program, the Goose Lab founders, dance enthusiasts themselves, were following the growing trends online that saw users create dance videos online. But while observing the explosion of dance videos onto YouTube, TikTok and Instagram during the pandemic, they noticed that there were many users who were not able to correct their movements, as they were not able to receive explanation or feedback when dancing alone at home.

Goose Lab’s dance game platform utilizes AI vision technology to recognize, analyze, and provide feedback on users’ dance movements using only mobile devices or laptop cameras and without requiring any separate device such as a console. The startup plans to use this technology to create a dance game platform that allows people around the world to engage in avatar dance battles, and also aims to create a metaverse platform where dance lovers can gather to create and share games in the future.

Making Homebrewing Easy: Booze & Buzz

Booze & Buzz is a startup run by a Samsung mobile device development expert and a mobile UX designer who have lived in Italy for 10 years and won multiple international homebrewing competitions. Their solution shortens the brewing period of homebrewing from around three weeks to less than seven days, reduces the size of the product to be more comfortable for the home and comes with ingredient kits so that anyone can easily make the alcohol of their choice at home.

Through the solution’s app, users can monitor and control the production process of their home-brewed drinks, and are able to make a variety of drinks including beer, makgeolli (Korean rice wine), sparkling wine and even mead (honey wine).

In the future, the startup plans to provide personalized services that allow users to order their own alcohol kit by selecting the ingredients they want, and is set on leading the homebrewing culture in line with the growing trend of home-based lifestyles following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sensor-Powered Orthotics: Logos Bioelectronics

Logos Bioelectronics has developed a personalized foot brace – a functional insole – production solution for the 10 to 20% of the population who have difficulty walking due to changes in their foot shape.

The global foot orthotics market is expected to grow by more than 6% every year, and is currently worth about 2.9 billion USD. Usually, it takes a lot of time and money to manufacture foot orthosis, not to mention customer hospital bills, but Logos Bioelectronics has solved this issue with their innovative engine that collects data through sensors and extracts personalized foot orthotics.

When users put the sensor insole developed by Logos Bioelectronics into their shoes, the AI algorithm is able to diagnose the user’s walking posture and foot shape as they walk. The customized foot orthotics can be easily ordered online at a lower price than products currently available on the market.

Investing in Startup Longevity

Samsung Electronics has invested a total of 25 million USD over the past six years to support 57 C-Lab Inside spin-off startups, thus creating over 470 jobs. These startups have subsequently raised a total of over 84 million USD in follow-up investments, and their overall corporate value has surpassed 430 million USD.

The average survival rate of Korean startups after three years is 41.5%, and the average survival rate after five years falls to 29.2% – but the survival rate of C Lab spin-off startups is 98% after three years and 65% after five years, well above the national average.

Not only does the C-Lab inside startup spin-off program result in innovative solutions designed to help improve people’s lives, but it also results in the enhancement of Korean startups’ global reputation. At CES, the world’s largest consumer electronics exhibition, the program’s solutions won 14 innovation awards.

Particularly of note is EVAR, an electric vehicle charging solution company that spun off in 2018 and recently received a 4.6 million USD investment from Samsung Venture Investment and a major domestic automaker. EVAR is preparing to launch a subscription charging business in the future, and is currently expanding its scope to a wireless car charging service.

Furthermore, Lululab, an AI skin analysis service company that spun off in 2017, has entered more than 100 overseas offline stores in 11 countries through B2B partnerships, contributing to the K-beauty wave in the global beauty market. The company, which currently has more than 700,000 skin data points, aims to be listed on the KOSDAQ in 2023.

Stay tuned to Samsung Newsroom for more news and information on C-Lab Inside and its startup spin-off program.

*The above images are not the actual ID but a design draft.

Through C-Lab, Samsung Electronics provides opportunities for select projects and start-ups, with the final list of selected companies being announced at international events such as CES 2021. Through not only C-Lab Inside¹ and C-Lab Outside,² but also the C-Lab Outside companies that are selected in affiliation with the Daegu & Gyeongbuk Centers for Creative Economy & Innovation (CCEI), Samsung secures chances for companies to join the international stage. These efforts allow the stepping stones of growth to be broadened for an increasing number of start-ups.

So exactly which start-ups were chosen to take the stage at the CES 2021 digital exhibition? Samsung Newsroom met with two start-ups and one in-house venture from C-Lab to find out more about them as they prepare for the upcoming CES exhibition.

■ Tell us about Food & Sommelier.

We are one of the teams selected as an in-house venture within C-Lab Inside. We provide a service that recommends the best food and wine combinations according to users’ preferences. While collaborating on R&D with the Korea International Sommelier Association (KISA), we selected elements that affect the suitability of food-wine combinations. The elements concerning food consisted of 28 ingredients, 12 cooking methods, and 47 sauces. For wine, the important factors included body, acidity, aroma, and sweetness. After converting these elements into numerical figures, we developed the capability to recommend the food and wine combinations that would prove most attractive to our users. For example, the classifications of foods include beef, chicken, pork, oily fish, and mushrooms, while some examples of the cooking methods are blanching, steaming, boiling, and grilling. With proven recommendations from Korea’s major sommeliers, Food & Sommelier is striving to create a service that is reliable for customers.

■ What compelled the company to provide food and wine combination recommendations?

We have often witnessed situations where waiters and waitresses were confused about what wine they should recommend when helping customers. As we learned more about wine, we realized that the field of wine is somewhat influenced by IT. The global wine market is expected to continue to grow in the coming years. As wine becomes more and more popular, there will be more demand for our service. Once our service is combined with IT, anyone will be able to enjoy dishes with the appropriate wine to match.

■ How do I use the service?

First, start your app on your smartphone and take a picture of the food. Once the program recognizes the dish, the matching algorithm will recommend some wines with high match rates.

■ How will Food & Sommelier change our day-to-day lives in the future?

In the past, customers had to rely on the recommendations of store clerks or price ranges to pick a wine. In the future, however, Food & Sommelier will help them conveniently select a wine or dish based on their preferences by providing information via kiosks, a smartphone app, and tablet PCs. Wherever there is an establishment that serves wine, Food & Sommelier will provide a gourmet restaurant experience with sommelier-quality recommendations.

■ What are your goals?

South Korea is on the fringes when it comes to the wine market. By incorporating the market with the world’s best IT, however, we are sure that the Korean market can come to be a leader in the ‘food tech’ market. Food & Sommelier would also like to go beyond the wine market, and hopes to widen its scope of pairing solutions to include a range of other alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

■ Tell us about Counter Culture Company.

We are one of the start-ups selected from C-Lab Outside. We operate a global K-pop online home training service called ED Online K-pop Training Agency. Instructors who have experience nurturing famous K-pop stars provide comprehensive lectures on not only dancing, but also vocal training, fitness, makeup, and styling. This service provides international fans with the actual training that K-pop singers receive.

■ What motivated you to provide this service?

As K-pop gains international popularity, people are increasingly interested in finding out how Korea’s K-pop singers are fostered. Chinese and European singers-to-be are already spending tens of thousands of dollars per year to receive K-pop training in Korea.

We have paid close attention to providing world-class online lectures, and other services that deliver the know-how of international millionaires, at reasonable prices without any time or space restrictions for use. Accordingly, we wondered if we could incorporate this into online services that teach dance or deliver vocal training. Once the future K-pop trainees learn basic moves and receive vocal training online before starting their official training in Korea, the entertainment management companies that deliver the in-person training may be able to reduce their costs as well.

■ How do users utilize the service?

With our service, users can basically take online K-pop classes. By syncing their smartphone cameras, users can use ‘mirror studio’ to compare their moves with those of the instructor and ‘live class’ to experience real-time interactive training. To truly improve, trainees require monitoring and professional feedback. Thus, ED provides assignments for practice every week and professional feedback regarding the submitted performances. Moreover, users can check their progress by going through monthly evaluations along with Korean K-pop trainees.

■ How will Counter Culture Company change our day-to-day lives in the future?

Our service will allow any K-pop trainee to take high-quality lessons regardless of space and time, even if they live far away from Korea. ED is also planning to launch an online audition service in collaboration with some entertainment management companies. In the past, those companies had to travel overseas to find talent, which required a lot of effort and expense. If ED can develop online audition capabilities for those qualified trainees, however, those management companies will be able to find more talent, regardless of recruiting restrictions.

■ What are your goals?

It has been about seven months since the official launch of the service. So far, we have been enjoying meaningful encounters while providing better user experiences and having our business grow at the same time. K-pop is a music genre that anyone can enjoy. We hope that our service will help global fans of K-pop communicate with one another and see their dreams come true by going beyond time, space, and language barriers.

■ Tell us about Salin.

Salin is a start-up that is supported by C-Lab Outside through the Daegu Center for Creative Economy & Innovation. With Salin, users can create avatars that resemble themselves to share content and communicate in virtual or augmented reality (VR or AR). There are many cooperative platforms in the market, although the purpose of those platforms is generally limited to meetings and training. Salin’s platform can be utilized for various purposes such as virtual concert halls for sharing performance videos, online training venues and virtual meeting rooms. In addition, anyone can easily utilize our technology through their laptops and smartphones, which are easier to access than smart glasses and VR headsets.

■ What made the company want to provide this service?

Up to now, most companies have been focused on applying VR and AR technologies to game services. However, we decided that these technologies were more suitable for services in the areas of media, education and collaboration.

■ How do users utilize the service?

First, users activate the Salin app with a laptop, smartphone or VR/AR headset. Once they have uploaded a selfie, they can create avatars that look like themselves and act in response to their movement. After that, all they have to do is use functions such as 3D writing and multi-video sharing to invite others into 3D spaces and enjoy talking with them.

■ How will Salin change our day-to-day lives in the future?

Imagine 50 avatars talking to each other on Salin’s platform – that would constitute a remarkable experience. This is a whole other level compared to 50 people exchanging messages online. Due to COVID-19 pandemic, college students have started using more virtual meeting services for not only studying but also social gatherings. By utilizing Salin, users will not only do better work but also enjoy a variety of daily activities in VR and AR environments.

■ What are your goals?

Last year, Salin’s platform was used to view sports events and performances, for remote collaboration work and for docent services. This year, we plan to launch more services to support large-scale exhibitions and conferences with hundreds of remote users. At Salin, we hope to provide unique services in such a way that more users and companies can combine their businesses with our platform.

¹ ‘C-Lab Inside’ is Samsung’s in-house idea incubation program that has been looking to instill a creative corporate culture throughout the company and nurture its employees’ ideas into meaningful offerings since December 2012.

² ‘C-Lab Outside’ is a start-up acceleration program for entrepreneurs outside of Samsung Electronics that has been seeking to invigorate the start-up ecosystem since 2018.

#1

Who among us has not experienced the frustration of trying to book tickets home ahead of a busy holiday weekend? While some book online from the comfort of their homes, others – many of them elderly – will line up at the break of dawn to reserve tickets in-person at major train and bus stations.

#2

Picture this: Person A recently went to a restaurant, but ended up leaving without ordering anything. Person A uses a wheelchair, and the controls on the restaurant’s self-order kiosk were slightly out of reach. As the staff seemed busy, Person A felt shy about asking for assistance, and chose to visit another restaurant instead.

While at first glance, the two stories above may seem unrelated, they both exemplify the dark side of technology in the digital era. Things like telecommuting, distance learning, autonomous driving, and AI job interviews are proof positive that digital technologies are becoming increasingly prevalent in both business and society. Unfortunately, digitalization is also creating issues.

To help address those issues, digital technology leaders must accept an important new mission: taking on corporate digital responsibility (CDR). In a nutshell, CDR involves developing products and technologies in a manner that protects users’ rights, and taking steps to enable more people to experience the benefits of digital technologies. The pandemic has prompted more sectors to utilize digital technologies, which has led to increasing pressure on businesses to engage in CDR. As a leader in cutting-edge technologies, what is Samsung Electronics doing to become more digitally responsible? Here are several ‘quests’ that Samsung has undertaken with regard to digital responsibility.

QUEST #1 | Consider Users’ Rights When Developing Products

The more useful a product is, the wider the gap between users and non-users becomes. Samsung strives for accessibility in its products, enhancing them with technologies that make it easy for all users, regardless of age, gender, or disability, to utilize them.

Take Samsung’s TVs, for example. The TVs’ Voice Guide function provides an audio guide for TV settings, combining channel and volume controls with tools to help you schedule a viewing, view current and scheduled program information, and browse the internet. When viewing content with sign language, Samsung’s proprietary AI algorithm automatically recognizes the sign language area and can enlarge it by up to 200 percent.

Samsung mobile devices have also introduced a variety of convenient accessibility features. This includes a function that allows those with hearing difficulties to pair a compatible hearing aid to their device via low-power Bluetooth, as well as a fixed-key feature for users with physical disabilities. In addition, Samsung’s Family Hub refrigerator caters to users in wheelchairs with functions that make it possible to move the top of the screen to an easier-to-reach position, adjust the height of the main controls, and launch the menu by tapping anywhere on the screen.

Digital advancements can be incredible, but they can cut both ways. Yes, they tend to make life more comfortable, but they can also create social issues like ‘smombies’¹ and ‘nomophobia’.² From a product design standpoint, helping users enjoy healthy digital lifestyles is a key part of being digitally responsible. Samsung has therefore committed to developing digital well-being tools that are based on five digital well-being values: Digital Detox, Balance, Guard, Wellness, and Safety. For example, Samsung’s App Timer feature (which falls under the Balance category) can help users reduce the amount of time they spend on applications by setting time limits. Focus Mode (Digital Detox) allows users to pause or silence notifications from selected apps temporarily, while the Samsung Kids service (Guard) helps create a safe environment for children to explore, play and develop good digital habits.

Safety is crucial when it comes to smartphones, as we tend to fill them with a wide range of important information, including everything from bank account numbers, contacts and photos. Samsung’s Find My Mobile feature was created to protect that valuable information in the event that you lose your phone. Once activated, it tracks the location of the lost phone, tells the user where it is, and offers them the choice to delete their personal data, including messages and photos, or upload it to Samsung Cloud. The Samsung Knox platform offers defense-grade mobile security, while the smartphones’ Secure Wi-Fi feature allows you to safely browse the internet on public wireless connections without worrying about your personal information being compromised.

QUEST #2 | Share the Benefits of Digital Technology with More People

“I saved two lives that were almost lost.”

“The technology is really useful for finding hidden sparks and embers and putting them out.”

The quotes above are from firefighters who utilized a product of Samsung’s in-house incubation program, C-Lab (Creative Lab), to help protect their community. The product they’re describing is a thermal observation device that uses thermal imaging cameras to help firefighters detect fires’ ignition points and identify and rescue others. It’s just one of many C-Lab innovations that reflect Samsung’s commitments to (1) developing products and services that address social issues, and (2) sharing those technologies with communities that need them.

Lives’Talk, a wearable device for tracking nomadic livestock, is another example of a community-enriching C-Lab innovation. The technology was created to make it easier for nomadic communities in Kazakhstan to find and retrieve their livestock. Once attached to livestock, the device’s GPS transmitter-receiver tracks the animals’ locations in real time. A total of 700 Lives’Talk devices were donated in all, helping farmers in these communities become more self-reliant.

Samsung is also advancing digital education programs that equip young minds with the tools they need to become leaders in creating a better world. The Samsung Smart School initiative provides smart devices and solutions to students in areas with little access to IT equipment, reducing the digital divide while supporting students’ creativity. The Samsung Dream Class program, meanwhile, offers middle school students living in areas with lower access to high-quality education an opportunity to take part in enriching classes covering subjects like math and coding. The Samsung Innovation Campus program offers youth entering the job market for the first time hands-on training in skills that technology-related jobs require, including fields like AI, IoT and data analysis. Together, these initiatives are representative of Samsung’s ongoing efforts to promote digital responsibility worldwide.

QUEST #3 | Uphold the Principles of CDR When Developing New Technologies

Often, when developing AI technology, the ethical beliefs of the people behind the technology will inform the ethics of the AI itself. Having recognized the importance of emphasizing social and ethical responsibility in technology development, Samsung established a set of AI ethics principles to put into practice. The company also established guidelines for employees to raise awareness of AI ethics within its workforce.

Samsung has gone to great lengths to foster an ecosystem of open innovation. Not only has the company introduced more than 130 open source projects, but it also hosts its annual Samsung Open Source Conference (SOSCON) to offer experts a forum to share and discuss new developments.

RESULT | Samsung Ranks in Top Ten of WBA’s 2020 Digital Inclusion Benchmark

Samsung’s consistent, multifaceted efforts to be digitally responsible have earned a ranking in the top ten of the World Benchmarking Alliance’s (WBA) Digital Inclusion Benchmark. Notably, Samsung is the only Korean company to rank in the top ten, and ranks third in Asia and fourth among companies in the hardware sector.

The WBA represents an alliance forged among approximately 176 global, regional and local organizations to shape the private sector’s contributions to achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. The WBA examines companies with a focus on seven key categories, including human rights, the environment, and digital inclusion. The WBA launched its very first Digital Inclusion Benchmark this year, which evaluated companies’ progress in improving access to technology, enhancing digital skills, fostering trustworthy use, and innovating both openly and ethically.

Samsung was noted for being one of the few companies that had established AI ethics principles. The company’s C-Lab program was singled out for its social contributions, while Samsung’s devotion to the expansion of the open-source ecosystem also earned a positive review. The Samsung Kids feature, which encourages children to have healthy smartphone habits, also received a high rating, as did the company’s various social contribution programs, in particular those that are helping communities close the digital divide.

As a company that develops products and technologies that enhance users’ lives, Samsung is committed to promoting digital responsibility. Going forward, the company will continue to explore ways to make it easier for people to access and utilize a wide range of convenient and meaningful digital technologies.

¹ A ‘smartphone zombie’; one who is constantly staring at his/her smartphone

² A term that describes the fear of being without a mobile device

Started in December 2012, C-Lab Inside nurtures employees’ innovative ideas while instilling a corporate culture in which creativity is at the fore. The program supports the development of ideas from all areas of the business.

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.

The five new startups include:

• Blockbuster – A video editing application that allows content creators to easily apply computer graphics(CG) and 3D effects to videos with their smartphones and that utilizes the patented Blockbuster algorithm to generate realistic 3D CG effects by converting 2D scenes into 3D layers.

• Hyler – A smart highlighter that allows analog text to be digitized and transferred to mobile devices. By highlighting with Hyler, users can easily collect information and interact with it through the Hyler app. For instance, the app’s extensive ‘search’ mode provides word information from a range of search engines and dictionaries that are directly linked to the app.

• Haxby – A smart study note service that records incorrect answers from workbooks and recommends worksheets based on the learner’s ability level. Features an AI algorithm that identifies the user’s competence level for each subject and provides customized worksheets to improve learning.

• SunnyFive – A window-shaped lighting device that produces artificial sunlight, allowing the user to enjoy the full spectrum of light produced by the sun’s natural passage through the sky during the day. Helps users synthesize vitamin D while they are indoors or in low-lit places without having to worry about skin aging or sunburn, and allows for brightness and color adjustment via the app.

• RootSensor – A new type of sensor that records daily UV exposure and utilizes its wide incident angle to minimize detection loss. Can be integrated into wearable devices, smart cars and smart buildings, where it provides a UV monitoring system that records accumulated UV exposure and provides information on skin condition and vitamin D production.

The C-Lab spin-off program provides startups with the investment and business consulting needed to help them grow. Samsung also provides a five-year window during which employees who launch startups can return to their jobs if their endeavors prove unsuccessful, meaning that individuals can embark on their entrepreneurial projects without having to fear that they are risking their careers.

As a result, 163 employees have established 45 startups since the inception of the C-Lab program. Not only have these companies raised 45 million USD in funding over the years, but their value has more than tripled compared to the time at which they were spun off.

C-Lab spin-off ‘Breathings’ launched a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign on April 21st for its ‘BULO’ breath analysis device for intelligent training, and has since raised over 72,000 USD for the project. Meanwhile, ‘Kitten Planet’, which launched ‘Brush Monster’ — a smart toothbrush that uses an AR guide to educate kids on how to brush effectively — is looking to expand its business into dental care for adults. Finally, ‘Mangoslab’ — which also got its start through C-Lab — recently released ‘Nemonic Mini’, a portable printer that prints memos onto sticky notes without the need for toner. In February Samsung selected Mangoslab’s Nemonic Mini as a special giveaway item for customers who pre-ordered the Galaxy S20 in South Korea.

“Including these five companies, a total of 45 C-Lab alumni startups have been created as a result of the C-Lab program,” relates Inkuk Hahn, Vice President and Head of the Creativity & Innovation Center at Samsung Electronics. “These results illustrate Samsung’s commitment to investing in employee-driven innovation and promoting the South Korean startup ecosystem. Going forward, we will continue working to unlock Samsung employees’ potential for creative innovation while encouraging the entrepreneurial spirit.”

2020 marks the first year that the start-ups accepted to participate in C-Lab outside will be featured at CES. Leveraging the success of the C-Lab Inside initiative, C-Lab Outside has been expanding Samsung’s support for new ventures to start ups and innovations outside of the Samsung network since 2018. The program provides financial support, business collaboration and chances to participate in global exhibitions for new entities with the goal of energizing the start-up ecosystem and creating more IT and technology-driven jobs.

The number of homes populated by just one person is expected to skyrocket in the near-future, with more than 120 million new single-person households expected to be added globally between 2016 and 2030. This demographic will be created by young singles prioritizing their careers over relationships, as well as by the expanding widowed and divorced elderly group, which is especially significant in developed countries. From these shifting demographics emerge pressing concerns regarding loneliness, isolation and a host of other social problems. Thus, team Circulus has introduced its household pet robot ‘pibo’ to try and help address this issue. Asked about the meaning of their team name, team Circulus related that “Circulus is Latin for circle. The word also contains ‘us’, which stands for ‘let us help each other.’”

Pibo balances people’s emotions via communication. It is versatile, offering basic conversation, guidance services including news and weather information, and a voice search function. The humanoid robot analyzes the user’s facial expressions and dialogue in order to best interact with them, delivering conversation, well-known sayings, turning on music or starting to dance depending on how the user is perceived to be feeling. Unlike a smart speaker, pibo doesn’t wait for you to speak up first, and will often initiate conversation when you walk past. Users can also share memories with pibo, using it to share memories, photos and voice diary entries. What’s more, users can update their pet robot with new features by downloading them from the robot application store. Pibo can be customized specifically for you as you make use of its advanced capabilities and tailor its functions to your preferences.

“We’d like to introduce pibo to the world at CES 2020,” said a member of Circulus, “As the US, Europe and Japan are all experiencing an uptick in one-person households, pibo can be a great friend to those who are alone.”

Generally, if you want a personalized exercise plan, you must first undergo a medical examination. However, going to the hospital to put on a mask and run on a treadmill represents a daunting task to many. FITT is a PHR (Personal Health Record) healthcare data platform that was created to positively influence people’s health via easy-to-use exercise evaluation software. When asked about the meaning of their team name, team FITT explained that “Our team name is an abbreviation of the four major elements of exercise planning: Frequency, Intensity, Time and Type.”

FITT starts out by measuring your maximum oxygen intake while you complete a 2.4km running exercise through the FITT app. This test allows the program to produce four one-page reports containing professional-level data regarding the user’s body and physical condition, as well as a fitness program that is tailor-made for them. Within the program FITT issues a customized cardiorespiratory exercise plan, recommending how far users should run, how fast and for how long, as well as a customized posture and muscle strength exercise plan. Once users complete the fitness test, FITT can even predict diseases that the user might be susceptible to, including high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, stroke, heart attacks and cardiovascular disease, among others. If the system identifies that a user is at risk for one or more of these conditions, it will recommend further preventative activities for them. FITT is currently being provided as a web service in select fitness centers, but will be made widely available once the FITT app launches in March of 2020.

“Exercise works best when it is customized for the individual and done in a controlled environment,” a member of team FITT commented, “I hope our ‘exercise evaluations’ help users find out which kind of exercise routine is the best fit for them.”

These days, people use a lot of different devices, with a broad range of different features. In light of this, Suk-jung Kim of Vtouch says he feels that “new ways to interact with devices should be emerging as well.” The conventional input methods these days include either using a touchscreen or interacting with a cursor, but these methods can be prohibitive for users with limited mobility or children who cannot always reach up high enough to interact with devices. Asked about the meaning of their team name, team Vtouch reported that “It means ‘virtual touch’, which communicates the fact that our solution can bring about a ‘touch’ input without the need for physical contact.”

Vtouch’s concept focuses on the fact that whenever you point at an object, your eyes, finger and the object you are pointing at are aligned. The technology enables a non-contact touch input by using computer vision and deep-learning technologies to analyze the movement of the eyes and finger through a camera. Vtouch allows for more sanitary use of devices by removing the physical touch element, and maintains a recognition rate of over 99 percent, with an error margin of just 5 percent of the distance between the user’s hand and the display. As the intuitive technology only requires a camera and processor to work, it can be implemented in a wide range of sectors including automotive, IoT (smart home) and digital signage.

“At first, Vtouch was too expensive to mass produce,” a member of the Vtouch team relates, “However, with the help of various researchers and developers we have been able to bring the price down to where it is now cheaper than most touch panels. We are hoping to implement our solution in multiple environments soon in order to provide a convenient, inclusive experience for users.”

We are living in the era of video-first, and video calls are great for allowing you to talk to loved ones face-to-face without actually being in the same place. However, video calls aren’t appropriate for all situations. If someone video calls you in a quiet place like the library or the subway, or if you want to talk about something private, video calls are less than ideal. Thus, the Smoothy team set out to create a video call app that would address these inconveniences. By incorporating text elements into the video calling interface, while also allowing people to incorporate large groups into their video calls, Smoothy has attracted more than 850,000 users already. Commenting on their team name, the members of team Smoothy related that “Our name implies the smooth combination of video, voice and text during video calls. It also means togetherness while expressing yourself, wherever you are.”

When you answer a call on Smoothy, the call is initially launched in silent mode, meaning that you can answer a video call, anytime, anywhere. Smoothy allows for large group video calls as well, enabling up to eight people to participate in a video call at once. From there, you can either talk normally, or chat with real-time texting, with your texts appearing in the call window as you type. Although we are living in the world of video, most people still communicate through text messages, and the world of texting is brought to life when you can see your friend’s reaction in real-time right before your eyes. Smoothy even allows you to quickly and conveniently capture video clips and send them to friends, enabling whole conversations to unfold through snippets of video. Unlike other video call apps, Smoothy enables you to decorate yourself with features such as AR Emoji, allowing for more fun video chats. When you are in a video chat with more than two people, Smoothy even allows you to visualize your reactions with next-level features such as a lightning effect and a function that allows you to cause other participants’ displays to shake.

“Firstly, we would like to provide a video call app that is fun to use,” reported a member of team Smoothy, “And secondly, we want to deliver an app that enables a wide range of effects and interaction styles.”

A total of nine C-Lab teams will exhibit their work at CES 2020 in Las Vegas from January 7 to 10. While showcasing their work the teams will meet with future users from all over the world to discuss their ideas and try to determine how their innovations will be received. The C-Lab categories will be introduced in two installments, with Part 1 highlighting the five teams who were selected by the internal company venture program.

As smartphone performance has come to rival that of laptops, many users have begun using their smartphones to edit documents and write emails. Unfortunately, typing extended texts on a small keyboard proves uncomfortable, while using a portable keyboard requires the user to carry another sizeable piece of hardware around. Thus, the SelfieType team has come up with “the keyboardless keyboard.”

With SelfieType, the only keyboard you need is yourself. You just place your smartphone on any flat surface and hold your hands in the typing position. Then, when you start typing, the proprietary SelfieType AI engine will analyze your finger movements and convert them into QWERTY keyboard inputs on your smartphone. Except for an RGB, front-facing smartphone camera, the technology requires no additional hardware to enable user-friendly typing. Although current testing is based on English-language typing, the developers are planning to test the technology with other languages in the near-future. The team is also focusing on improving accuracy by enabling SelfieType to be customized according to individual users’ typing styles. SelfieType’s technology can also be extended to tablets, laptops and various other mobile devices.

“At CES, we’d like to receive feedback on how to keep improving SelfieType,” a member of the SelfieType team reports, “we want to see SelfieType shock the world!”

It was a love of reading that first compelled the members of team Hyler to find an easier way to clip excerpts from extended texts while reading them. In order to digitize texts, you would ordinarily need to type the information out manually, but Hyler allows you to transfer texts from paper to an app just by highlighting them with a pen.

On the outside, Hyler looks similar to a regular highlighter. But beneath the surface, it is much more. Hyler utilizes an optical module and line scan camera to capture text and send it to an OCR (optical character recognition) engine, which digitizes it. This technology can be seen in use in public parking lots which utilize technology that reads and records vehicle license plates. Handheld text scanning presents new challenges however, because of the margin of error that is introduced by the movement of the user’s hand. To address this, the Hyler team developed their patented “source matching” technology, which reduces both character error rate (CER) and word error rate (WER) by around 50%. This technology also allows the user to quickly and easily search for specific information such as figures, tables and numbers in the digitized text. The device can be turned on and off by simply removing or replacing the cap, and it can be used not only to clip text, but also to look up the meanings of words in a range of connected dictionaries and search engines. With a diameter of just 13mm, the device is slim and portable, and if you prefer to clip text without leaving marks on the page the device’s removable tip can be replaced with an inkless one.

“We imagine that people will use Hyler when they’re reading academic studies or working on long documents,” said a member of team Hyler, “Furthermore, we would like to see the texts that users digitize analyzed in order to gain insights into contemporary trends.”

Minsuk Park, the leader of team Becon, started losing his hair in his 20s. For 10 years every hair loss medicine and special shampoo he tried was ineffective, while seeking professional treatment proved costly and inconvenient. “What if there was a way to get professional-level scalp care from home?” he wondered. This was the beginning of Becon.

To make a precise evaluation of scalp conditions, the Becon hand-held device and app can be used to analyze the 10 different elements of scalp health. These include: hair density, follicle count, texture, sensitivity, temperature, moisture and scent, among others. Becon uses a camera with 80X magnification, a CMOS sensor and a machine leaning-based algorithm to analyze the scalp, before recommending a solution that is tailored to the user’s unique condition. Once the user’s scalp has been analyzed, an AI algorithm selects from a list of more than 60 ingredients to design a customized shampoo that best fits the user’s scalp assessment. As time goes on, Becon collects data to deliver a diagnostic report illustrating the progress that has been made regarding the user’s condition.

“We want to keep improving our scalp diagnostic algorithm to provide accurate information to as many people as possible,” a Becon member commented, “As our goal is to enter the global market, we’re currently working on building a database of hair products from all over the world.”

Every house has windows that face in different directions, and a room can often end up feeling cold and dark unless it has windows that face south. Because the human body only synthesizes vitamin D when you are exposed to sunlight, a lack of natural light can be bad for your health. What’s more, according to a clinical review published in the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, around a billion people worldwide may have deficient or insufficient vitamin D levels. “Is there a way we could enjoy healthy sunlight whenever and wherever we want?” This was the question pondered by team Sunnyside, who put their minds to creating a window-like lighting device that would generate artificial sunlight.

SunnySide mimics the full solar spectrum, which makes the light it generates very similar to actual sunlight. The only difference is that it eliminates UVA, which leads to skin aging, while providing the UVB that is conducive to good health, resulting in the production of “healthier sunlight”. Sunnyside windows are easy to install anywhere, meaning that users can sunbathe indoors and in the process elevate their vitamin D levels without having to worry about skin damage. Users can use SunnySide for a more natural morning wake-up that will help alleviate insomnia and seasonal depression, then enjoy watching the device cycle from dawn, to noon, and finally to a red sunset. In cooperation with Samsung C&T, SunnySide was tested at the Raemian Gallery model house in South Korea. SunnySide was installed in the bathroom space, and the test found that synthesis of an appropriate amount of vitamin D – which would have taken around an hour in regular sunlight – was able to occur in only six minutes while the test subject was in the shower.

“Considering how many people buy bottled water and filter their air these days, it seems only natural that they will soon seek out healthier sunlight,” reports a SunnySide team member, “With SunnySide, you no longer have to go up onto the roof or drive to the beach to get some sun.”

Receiving insufficient amounts of ultraviolet (UV) light can lead to increased chances of bone abnormalities and diabetes. However, receiving too much UV light can cause cataracts and skin cancer. Therefore, ensuring that your body receives the right amount of UV light is important. What’s more, the UV sensors currently available have different incidence angles at different solar altitudes, so it is difficult to precisely measure how much ultraviolet light you are being exposed to. The UltraV team was gathered to address this issue.

The UltraV ultraviolet sensor combines a proximity sensor and photochromic materials. The proximity sensor – which is made up of an LED and PD sensor – is mounted on a smartphone to conserve battery. The photochromic material becomes opaque when exposed to ultraviolet rays, changing the amount of LED light entering the PD and allowing the sensor’s firmware to produce UV index readings. Although the issue of sensitivity reduction according to angle is inevitable in this kind of sensor, the UltraV team were able to drastically minimize this effect to the point where the solution maintains 90% accuracy at an incident angle of 60 degrees. When equipped to a wearable device or smartphone, the UltraV sensor allows users to conveniently monitor the condition of their skin and their vitamin D levels and receive guidance if they are under or overexposed. This type of wide-field-of-vision UV sensor is one of the first of its kind, with patents already obtained in the US, EU and China.

“The sensor we have developed is smaller than a fingernail, which means that it can regulate sunlight intake not only through wearable devices, but also in automobiles and on building windows,” a member of UltraV related, “Our product can be used in an unlimited number of ways, so we are looking forward to seeing where it will best be applied.”

“We will actively support C-Lab to create products that reflect the latest market trends and customer demands and will showcase outstanding projects and startups of C-Lab in various global exhibitions,” said Inkuk Hahn, Vice President and Head of the Creativity & Innovation Center at Samsung Electronics.

From C-Lab Inside Projects to Successful Spin-offs

C-Lab Inside is an in-house idea incubation program that encourages and nurtures innovative ideas from Samsung employees, which began in 2012. This will be the fifth year C-Lab is participating in CES.

The new C-Lab Inside projects being unveiled for the first time at this year’s event are focused on a convenient and healthy lifestyle. They include: SelfieType, a virtual keyboard solution using the front-facing camera; Hyler, a smart highlighter pen that digitizes text printed on paper; Becon, a home care solution for scalp treatment & hair loss prevention; SunnySide, window-shaped artificial sunlight; and Ultra V, an ultraviolet monitoring sensor and service.

Since its inception, a total of 40 Samsung C-Lab alumni projects have launched as fully-fledged start-ups, independent from the company. And eight of these will be showcasing their latest innovations and products at CES 2020 at their own booths, seeking new opportunities to expand their reach. These successful spin-offs include Linkflow, Welt, Linkface, Lululab, Mopic, Monit, AnaloguePlus, and Luple.

Linkface is notable in that it has been named as Innovation Honoree of CES 2020 for its ‘Dear’ headphone with a biosignal sensor to reduce the risk of hearing loss in children. Welt, Lululab and Linkflow also have been honored with industry awards for their respective innovations.

Four Start-ups Accelerated Through C-Lab Outside

Four new start-ups from C-Lab Outside will also be featured alongside projects from C-Lab Inside at CES for the first time.

Created in October 2018, C-Lab Outside began as a startup acceleration program to vitalize the start-up ecosystem and create more IT and technology-driven job opportunities in South Korea. Leveraging the successful experience of C-Lab Inside, C-Lab Outside expands the support to include ideas and innovations from outside the Samsung network. The start-ups selected for the C-Lab Outside program are provided with financial support, business collaboration, and opportunities to participate in global IT exhibitions alongside Samsung.

At this year’s event, the following start-up innovations will be featured: Circulus, a companion robot that uses interactive technology; FITT, a healthcare data-based ICT service; Vtouch, a technology that controls objects with gestures using cameras; and Smoothy, a multi-party video call service that supports simultaneous video and voice.

Samsung and the innovators behind these C-Lab Outside start-ups are looking forward to participating in CES 2020 and to have the opportunity to expand the market reach of their innovations. For more information about C-Lab at CES 2020, please visit the booth #51248~#51259 in Sands, Hall G (Eureka Park Marketplace) on January 7 – 10, 2020.

In addition to supporting innovations and entrepreneurship, Samsung is committed to carrying out its vision “Together for Tomorrow! Enabling People” by empowering future generations to achieve their full potential through various education projects.

Appendix 1. C-Lab Inside Projects

1. SelfieType

‘SelfieType’ is a virtual keyboard using the front-facing selfie camera. A proprietary SelfieType AI engine analyzes finger movements coming from the front camera, and converts them into QWERTY keyboard inputs. SelfieType requires no additional hardware and it is highly adaptable to various mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets and laptops.

2. Hyler

‘Hyler‘ is a smart highlighter that digitalizes analog texts from paper onto mobile devices. By highlighting with Hyler, users can simply collect the information and manage it with the app. When using ‘search mode’ in Hyler, it prompts the user with extensive search results, depending on various search engines or dictionaries linked to Hyler.

3. Becon

‘Becon’ is a scalp home-care service to prevent hair loss with the recommended solution based on scalp analysis. It consists of a hand-held device and a compatible app. The diagnostic device analyzes in real time ten conditions of the scalp such as hair follicle density, dead skin, sensitivity, temperature and humidity based on machine learning algorithm. It recommends the most suitable solution according to the result of the analysis to remedy the user’s scalp trouble. It also shows the trend of the scalp’s improvement through the app.

4. SunnySide

‘SunnySide’ is a window-shaped lighting device that produces artificial sunlight. It enables the user to enjoy the sunlight that changes by the hour by copying the full spectrum of the actual sunlight. It also helps users synthesize vitamin D from indoors or in places where there isn’t a sufficient amount of sunlight without worrying about skin aging or sunburn. It can be easily installed on the wall like a picture frame.

5. Ultra V

‘Ultra V’ is a new type of sensor and service that records ultraviolet rays daily. The sensor has a wide incident angle which makes it easy to integrate into wearable devices. With Ultra V, users can monitor and manage their skin condition and Vitamin D production which are influenced by accumulated exposure to solar UV rays.

Appendix 2. C-Lab Outside Startups

1. Circulus (http://pibo.circul.us)

Circulus showcases a humanoid robot, ‘piBo’ for single-person households. piBo provides guidance services such as simple conversation and news/weather/search information. It interacts with users based on emotional analysis of facial expressions and contents of conversations and gives appropriate responses with sayings, music and dance. Users are able to add new features and content which can be downloaded from its robot application store.

2. FITT (http://www.fitt.kr)

‘FITT’ is a PHR (Personal Health Record) healthcare data platform based on exercise tests. FITT provides three types of exercise tests; cardiorespiratory, posture and muscle strength. After a test, users receive an optimized and personalized exercise program catered to users’ health status compared to other people of the same age and gender. It also can predict possible diseases that the user may be exposed to such as high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, stroke, heart attack, cardiovascular disease, etc. and prescribes personalized exercise programs to prevent the risk of getting these diseases.

3. Vtouch (http://vtouch.io/)

‘Vtouch’ enables users to control devices without physically touching them by tracking the user’s eyes and fingertips with its patented computer vision and deep-learning technologies. It can be applied to various industries such as smart cars, smart homes and digital signage to control different devices. It can also keep displays clean and safe from germs or bacteria.

4. Smoothy (https://smoothy.co/)

‘Smoothy’ is a group video chat application that can be accessed by up to 8 people at once. What makes Smoothy more special is that the video chat starts at silent mode when the call is first connected so that it allows users to answer the call anytime and anywhere. It also provides video calls using Samsung AR Emoji. Once users have their avatars, the AR Emoji can mirror facial expressions and motions in real-time which makes video calls more fun.

The eight new C-Lab projects include: an in-video virtual ad service ‘Tisplay’, an ASMR sound recording solution ‘aiMo’, an instant video making service ‘MEDEO’, an AI news  analysis service ‘PRISMIT’, a custom perfume making service ‘Perfume Blender’, an auto-adjusting monitor ‘Girin Monitor Stand’, an AI desk light ‘alight’, and a hearing assistant  solution ‘SnailSound’.

At CES 2019, C-Lab will introduce the biggest number of projects it has ever unveiled in a single show since its CES debut in 2016. This will help to refine the projects and prepare the prototypes that will eventually become finished products to take to market.

“We will present promising C-Lab projects leveraging AI technologies in the field of video content creation, perfume making and more. These are deeply related to our daily lives and we hope to catch the eyes of attendees,” said Inkuk Hahn, Vice President and Head of the Creativity & Innovation Center at Samsung Electronics.

In addition to these projects, eight start-ups which have been spun off from Samsung C-Lab – MOPIC, LINKFLOW, lululab, WELT, Cooljamm company, MONIT, BLUEFEEL and analogue plus –will participate at CES 2019 to showcase their newly released commercial products and explore global business opportunities.

Three of these C-Lab spin-offs have been recognized as CES 2019 Innovation Awards winners. One notable example is the wearable camera FITT360 by LINKFLOW, which was given an award in the Digital Imaging category for two consecutive years. MOPIC and lululab also received awards in the Portable Media Players and Accessories, and Biotech categories. Since 2016, C-Lab spin-off companies have been named winners six times and have proven their marketability and technology.

Created in December 2012, C-Lab is an in-house idea incubation program that encourages a creative corporate culture and nurtures innovative ideas from Samsung employees. The program supports the development of ideas from all areas of the business. Introduced in 2015, the C-Lab spin-off policy helps Samsung employees who have successfully completed C-Lab projects to launch their own start-ups. Samsung supports the spin-off companies through seed money investment and business consulting to accelerate their growth, while guaranteeing their independent management.

For more information, please visit the booth #52102~#52118 in Sands, Hall G (Eureka Park Marketplace) on January 8 – 11, 2019.

Appendix 1. C-Lab Projects

 1. Tisplay

‘Tisplay’ is an in-video virtual ad service for creators to use while live streaming. Tisplay recognizes the surface of the creator’s clothing and places the ads as if they were actually printed on the clothing through computer vision and graphics technology. Creators are able to place not only ads but also various images related to the video content in a way to communicate with viewers in real-time. Furthermore, viewers can enjoy videos without pausing due to mid-video pop-up ads which often feel like spam.

2. aiMo

‘aiMo’ is an ASMR sound recording solution using a smartphone and cover case that simulates the human ear. When recording ASMR content with this solution, creators not only obtain spatially more enhanced sounds in terms of sound directivity, they also produce vivid, realistic ASMR sounds with AI sound rendering software without professional recording devices. Anyone can easily create high-quality ASMR sound content – even when outdoors.

 3. MEDEO

‘MEDEO’ provides an instant video making service which allows users to shoot  and edit simultaneously.
Analyzing the scene and context with AI technology, MEDEO automatically integrates visual effects and background music and blends videos with the recorded videos during live streaming. In addition to that, it provides fully automated 1-click video rendering at an expert level that extracts only the core scenes of the saved video.

4. PRISMIT

‘PRISMIT’ is an AI news analysis service which creates issue-driven timelines in order to help readers understand the issue at a glance. When the user searches an issue or event, PRISMIT automatically curates the top five articles that are most representative among of the numerous articles available using issue clustering technology. This helps readers understand the context and history of the issue while many services simply offer the most read or most recent articles.

5. Perfume Blender

‘Perfume Blender’ is a custom perfume making service that enables users to make a customized fragrance with a compatible device and share the recipe through the app. When the user takes a photo of their favorite perfumes with the app, it analyzes the common ingredients and recommends fragrance recipes that the user might like. The user can directly make the perfume with those recipes or create a perfume by adjusting the ratio of the recipes through the device which has eight ingredients.  Users are able to purchase additional scents.

 6. Girin Monitor Stand

‘Girin Monitor Stand’ is an auto-adjusting monitor stand to ensure users have proper posture while on their computers at work. The sensor embedded stand keeps tracking the user’s posture, especially neck and head, in real-time. When the user has a bad posture, it subtly moves the monitor which naturally trains users to assume better posture without noticing the change in monitor position. Users can correct their posture by repeating this pattern to avoid postural strain in the neck, back, and shoulders.

7. alight

‘alight’ is an AI desk light which provides an optimal environment to increase concentration and provides lighting which is beneficial for the health of users. It detects user actions through the embedded camera and automatically changes the light according to the situation such as study, relax and focus. It comes with a controller which alerts the user to focus on study when the user is using a smartphone or sleeping. It also provides study history and time lapse videos of studying through the app.

8. SnailSound

SnailSound is a hearing assistant solution for people who have trouble hearing sounds. It consists of an app and an earpiece. The app analyzes user-preferred sound from feedbacks by simple hearing tests, then calibrates the sound to be heard clearer. With a smart nonlinear amplification and AI-based adaptive noise suppression algorithms, SnailSound amplifies inaudible sound and suppresses background noise at the same time to give a better hearing experience to the hearing impaired without expensive hearing aids.

Appendix 2. C-Lab Spin-off
1. MOPIC (www.mopic3d.com)

: Glasses-free 3D solution for any display devices

2. LINKFLOW (www.linkflow.co.kr)

: Neckband-form wearable 360 camera

3. lululab (www.lulu-lab.com)

: Artificial intelligence (AI) skincare assistant

4. WELT (www.weltcorp.com)

: Smart healthcare belt

5. Cooljamm Company (www.soundsup.io)

: Automated musice producer

6. MONIT (www.goodmonit.com)

: Smart baby monitor

7. analogue plus (www.analogue-plus.com)

: Smart communication device for helmet users

8. BLUEFEEL (www.bluefeelcorp.com)

: Portable air purifier and mini head fan

Summary

• In-sung Lee is a Project Partner in Samsung’s Center for Creativity Development who’s tasked with selecting and managing C-Lab projects.
• Created in December of 2012, C-Lab (Creative Lab) is an in-house idea incubation program that was started to help Samsung employees turn their innovative ideas into reality.
• Lee strongly believes that good ideas come in all shapes and forms.
• To help ensure that the best of the best projects get made, Lee has developed his own unique criteria for evaluating C-Lab submissions.

For some, good ideas are hard to come by.

That, however, is not the case for In-sung Lee. As a Project Planner in Samsung’s Center for Creativity Development, Lee comes across great ideas every day. It’s his job to select the best of the best out of Samsung employees’ C-Lab submissions. The innovative ideas that receive his seal of approval take one big step closer to becoming reality.

But what exactly is Samsung’s C-Lab program, and how does Lee select which projects will be developed? Read on to find out.

Creativity Is Key

C-Lab is Samsung Electronics’ in-house startup incubation program that was created to bring its employees’ most innovative ideas to life.

Lee is not only in charge of selecting C-Lab submissions, he’s also in charge of incubation, as well as analyzing selected ideas’ marketability, making sure that the development process remains on track, and identifying the most desirable path for each project.

Creativity is key when it comes to C-Lab submissions. To help get their creative juices flowing, Samsung regularly hosts interactive employee events like the recent Idea Mix Hackathon, pictured above.

Part of the process of assessing C-Lab projects’ commercial potential involves presenting the innovations at relevant exhibitions. Here we see a showcase for IGNIS, a thermal imaging camera that helps firefighters locate people who need to be rescued.

Lee regularly organizes interactive exhibitions and hackathons that nurture employees’ creativity and encourage them to come up with the sort of dynamic ideas that would be perfect for C-Lab. As he notes, Samsung employees represent a wide range of backgrounds and expertise, and the ideas that they dream up are just as interesting and diverse.

Evaluating ‘Big Picture’ Potential

Lee studied mechanical engineering at university, and began his career at Samsung Electronics as a developer. Since joining the Center for Creativity Development, he’s continuously wrestled with the question of how to define an unequivocally good idea. The answer, he’s found, is not so cut and dry.

“There are generally two types of ideas that get submitted to C-Lab,” says Lee. “The first are ideas that address existing pain points, while the second are ideas that uncover potential needs or address new trends. While good ideas can come from anywhere, in my experience I’ve found that there is no absolutely good idea.”

Lee believes that it’s nearly impossible to effectively judge C-Lab submissions by relying solely on his background as an engineer. This makes it important to evaluate each potential project through a much wider lens. “Each idea has its own extraordinary story,” Lee explains. “Not only do they have the power to add more convenience to people’s daily lives; they also have the potential to transform the world.”

Selecting the Best of the Best

Since he became in charge of selecting ideas for C-Lab projects, Lee has created his own criteria for picking the best of the best.

“Whenever I review a proposal, I utilize the so-called 2W1H (What, Why, How) interview technique to try to get a sense of the idea’s true value,” says Lee. “I ask questions like, ‘What is the idea at its core?’, ‘Why is it important or necessary now?’, and ‘How do you plan to make your idea a reality?’”

According to Lee, the ideas that tend to catch his eye are those that came about as solutions for frustrating problems. These are ideas in which Samsung employees apply their on-the-job experience developing innovative technologies to identify entirely new ways to utilize those technologies to streamline daily life. As Lee notes, “These types of ideas clearly answer [the 2W1H’s] ‘how to implement the idea’ question.”

Lee takes great joy in his work, and is always looking forward to hearing Samsung employees’ next innovative C-Lab proposal.

“I love watching their eyes light up when they present their ideas,” says Lee. “We’re currently in the process of selecting next year’s projects, and I can’t wait to see what they come up with next.”

Summary

• Samsung Hackathon, an event for open innovation regularly held by Samsung Electronics’ Creativity & Innovation Center, invited inventors from around the world to compete with local teams from Korea to find the best new ideas
• The event became a showcase for global creativity and a launchpad for the potential development of start-ups that could grow in the future
• Five teams were presented with the Best Idea Award, which comes with an opportunity to further pursue their ideas at Samsung Electronics C-Lab
• In its 5-year history, Samsung Hackathon has already produced numerous C-Lab projects, some of which have already been spun off as independent companies

There was a real buzz in the air. People were busy creating, sharing ideas and enjoying themselves in the process. Across three floors at the Samsung SNU (Seoul National University) Cooperation R&D Center, competitors took part in a hackathon to develop concepts that use technology in new ways.

Samsung Hackathon is an in-house event that invites creative minds from inside and out of the company to co-build ideas and compete for a potential spot in Samsung Electronics’ much coveted C-Lab (the company’s startup innovation program). Teams are given 300 minutes to hack up solutions for their ideas and another three hours to present them to judges and peers at their respective booths.

The 12th Samsung Hackathon event was a clash of 250 creative minds from around the world

October 20, 2018 marked the 12th time the hackathon has taken place but it has been given a new dimension because it’s the first time it has invited applicants from all over the world. 220 Samsung employees (including 60 employees from Samsung offices outside of Korea) and 30 SNU students were all too eager to make their mark at this year’s hackathon.

“The Hackathon is really special in the sense that nobody is forced to take part,” said Serina Yoo, Creativity & Innovation Center, Samsung Electronics. “Participants voluntarily get together for a weekend to share ideas across industries and learn from each other.”

Competition from Around the World

International teams seemed especially eager because the responsibility to do their respective countries proud rested on their shoulders. Preliminary rounds took place in Poland, Ukraine, Russia, India, China and the Philippines to decide who would be the ones to travel to Seoul on behalf of their country.

“As we were planning for the 12^th such event, we really wanted to see how we can expand this festival of creativity,” shared Julie An, Creativity & Innovation Center, Samsung Electronics, who helped plan this event. “We floated the idea across Samsung’s various R&D Centers worldwide and were happy to hear that they, too, were interested in an international, cross-functional Hackathon.” Changbin Gao, Samsung Research Center Beijing, testified that he “was excited to see the announcement three months ago and applied right away.”

Polish Geniuses (Poland), Ripe AI (Russia), and Equiteam (Ukraine) each overcame fierce domestic competition to win their tickets to Seoul

The Polish Geniuses team focused their efforts on developing an exercise-coaching solution using IoT-enabled gym equipment and an AI platform to analyze performance. They even managed to persuade some of attendees to try out their solution first hand, with mini trophies given out for participation. The Ripe AI team from Russia came up with a solution – adding sensors and a deep learning algorithm to a scale –  that can recognize, weigh and tag grocery items. The Ukrainian EquiTeam took their stab at a pair of smart glasses that uses IoT sensors and an AI algorithm to help users maintain a healthy posture.

The Smart Crosswalk team from Korea created a solution to making crossing roads safer. “The system recognizes vehicles’ movements when approaching intersections and alerts pedestrians through various inputs if and when there are signs of danger,” said Seonah Nam, Logic TD engineer, Semiconductor R&D Center, Samsung Electronics. “We considered visual, auditory or whatever kind of feedback that can be used to prevent unnecessary accidents.”

beyondLimits from Russia got attention from fellow participants with their 3D video-call app using various sensors

Feedback for this year has been positive – so much so that there are already plans to make the international competition an annual event. With such a rich collection of ideas and creators from all over the world, the hackathon is growing and has become a place that encourages creativity throughout the year.

Building Success, Year-On-Year

This edition of the event was the 12^th time the hackathon has taken place and over 2,000 employees, college students and other parties have already participated throughout the years. And since the event’s inauguration in 2013, several ideas have proved successful.

For example, Monit, the smart baby care solution, was conceived at one of the Hackathons and moved on to become a C-Lab project under the name ‘Dr. Macaron,’ later to be spun off as an independent business in 2017. Other projects such as Kitten Planet (formerly known as Chikapong while at C-Lab), Defind (known for their app Shoepik), and Jameasy have followed similar steps.

This year, five teams were selected for further development at C-Lab. Time will tell where their journeys will take them.

Winners of the 12^th Samsung Hackathon

Best Idea Award (these teams are given an opportunity to further pursue their ideas at C-Lab)

• Team Adobo (Philippines): SAFE ID-A smart and secure physical ID with rewritable photo and details and reprogrammable access controls
• EquiTeam (Ukraine): Posture analysis and alert service using glasses
• Eat’s the Cook (Korea): One-stop cooking source for single households
• Insiders (Korea): Auto-response tool for messaging services using AI
• Pince-nez of the Opera (Korea): AR glass translation service for performances in foreign languages

High Quality Award

• Polish Geniuses (Poland): Workout Coaching solution based on AI
• Share My Table (Korea): Food-sharing app
• S Tap (India): Personal, conversational recommendation app

Quirky Award

• Sorcerers (Korea): Superpower experience game using brainwave-recognition and VR
• Let’s Eat (Korea): Shared-delivery service for single households
• Smart Suitcase (Korea): Detachable device to make regular suitcases smart

Global Friendship Award

• Shoonya (India): 3D AR service using Samsung Gear devices
• beyondLimits (Russia): 3D video-call app using various sensors
• Dream (Korea): Relay-rental shared economy service

Summary

• Samsung C-Lab spin-off Linkflow came up with the first-ever neck band wearable camera that takes 360-degree footage and transmits clips immediately
• The FITT 360 landed in the market with a bang, especially in the security industry, but the team still had to hurdle through the early stages of starting a business outside of Samsung
• Persistence and openness to customer feedback was what helped them power through
• CEO Yong-guk Kim shares that startups should jump into the market early on to stay relevant – obsessing to polish their device to perfection could cause them to miss the right timing to present their solutions to market

It all started in Maui, Hawaii, where Yong-guk, was on his honeymoon. As he gazed up at the starry night sky from the observatories, he tried his best to capture the breathtaking view with his professional grade digital camera. But his high-spec device couldn’t do anything beyond what all traditional cameras can do, which was to capture the view that lies in front of the camera lens. As an avid blogger and photographer, he had always desired a camera that could capture an awesome view in its entirety.

“People only ever get to see what is in front of their eyes. But seeing the scene from all directions is a totally new experience,” said Yong-guk Kim, CEO of Linkflow. “It records the sky and the clouds in it; it captures all the little moments you may have missed.” With this value proposition, Samsung Electronics’ C-Lab spin-off Linkflow’s product ‘FITT360’ that is expanding the camera market with its ability to “capture and share moments in 360° true First-Person-View.”

The Flagship Product

The FITT360 is a completely new product for the camera market – a wearable camera device, in the form of a neck band, that takes 360-degree footage.

“I once took it on a biking trip to shoot a promotion video. It was eye-opening to see how 360-degree footage made the scene look so different even though the surroundings were quite familiar,” said Hae-jeon Shin, marketing head of Linkflow. “It’s a new idea to capture how you blend into your surroundings with your own camera. It’s totally different from taking a selfie.”

Linkflow offers two varieties of its wearable 360-degree camera device – FITT360 for the consumer market and FITT360 Security for business applications

Mass production of the FITT360 has already started, and it has been winning global recognition, for example being selected as a CES 2018 Innovation Award Honoree in the Digital Imaging & Photography category. The FITT360 also gathered eight times more funding than the team’s initial goal of $50,000 on Kickstarter.

Securing New Opportunities in the Market

After meeting various potential buyers at CES, the Linkflow Team saw an opportunity in the B2B market and came up with an upgraded product – FITT360 SECURITY. “Security companies from all over the world were excited about our product,” said Yong-guk. “It was like nothing they had ever seen before, yet it was clearly a great fit for their jobs. No other body cam out there could record a 360-degrees view, and instantly transmit clips.” Shin added, “We were even asked to sell samples of the first iteration when we participated in security exhibitions in London and Las Vegas.”

Three members of Linkflow sat down with Samsung Newsroom to share their thoughts and experiences

While fate has led Linkflow to first focus on B2B – namely, the security industry – it continues to seek further opportunity in the customer end. FITT360 has potential applications as a personal security device. It can be used to record extreme sports. But above of all, the team holds high hopes on the growing need from content creators such as YouTubers.

“The product is ideal. You can simply swing it around your neck while you pursue outdoor activities and hobbies, even when paragliding or surfing. The fact is that these contents exist today, but YouTubers and bloggers are burdened with bulky filming equipment,” the CEO explained.

The Trials that Tempered the Team

With the enthusiasm that FITT360 SECURITY has received in the B2B world and Linkflow’s ongoing pursuits in the consumer sector, it’s clear that the spin-off and the team have come a long way. However, as a growing venture, the team recounts the trials they’ve overcome together to stay passionate and ambitious. “It wasn’t all just rainbows and butterflies,” says Kim as he describes the countless disappointments he encountered in the search for Linkflow’s first partnerships.

“Once we left the cradle of Samsung, we were essentially nobody. Initially, there wasn’t a single company – investor or supplier – that was willing to work with us,” Kim recalled. “Some wouldn’t even talk to us as they didn’t feel that we were worthy of their time. We barely managed to gather the parts needed for our product.”

“There comes a moment of Zen when rejections don’t bother you anymore,” says Yong-guk Kim, CEO of Linkflow, as he recalls his journey to find the right partners

Even when Linkflow earned opportunities to present their business, it was hard to sway their dubious and skeptical attitudes. Sometimes they just don’t focus, Kim said. “I once gave an entire 10-minute presentation for a potential customer, only to hear him ask back, ‘So, is this a camera?’”

“At first it’s very depressing,” Kim recalled. “You tell yourself ‘it’s just business’ but rejection after rejection, your confidence just drops. Then comes defiance – it’s like ‘let’s see who smiles at the end.’ After even that comes a state of Zen. You just keep going until you get a result.”

Though they only got their first funding in their umpteenth meeting and partners in other business aspects were just as difficult to come by, the emotional roller coaster ride resulted in success and Linkflow has found its share of partners. Kim says that the experience made the team a bit wiser: “You grow a feel for whom to contact. Larger companies have various divisions that look after different parts of their businesses and you have to ask yourself: ‘who would need our technology the most?’ For us, managers of technology partnerships proved most fruitful.”

Developing as a Work-in-progress

Ever since its C-Lab days, Linkflow was confident in their unique product concept. But their source of pride was also the reason that made the process difficult. “We didn’t have anything to reference, or anyone to ask for advice,” said Junse Kim, head of product design, Linkflow. “We took the trial-and-error approach. We would quickly build a prototype, dog-food it, collect feedback and improve the device – again and again.”

“Many companies miss the opportunity to share their product concepts because they focus too much on polishing their devices,” Yong-guk points out. “Of course it’s important to provide quality products but as a start-up, you want to make sure your product is relevant. And the surest way to ensure that is to ask the final judge of it all – your customers. Timing – when to show the world what you want to do – is key.”

One of the first working prototypes shows that FITT360 was initially conceived as a head band the sat on the ears

FITT360 actually started out as a head band the sat on the ears, but was eventually modified to a neck band as a result of such trial-and-error. Part of the reason was for functionality – good height and stability. Sitting on the neck, the cameras can capture the surroundings from an optimal view – very close to eye-level. It is also less susceptible to motion and vibration as the neck and shoulders move much less than the head.

Another part was to prevent it from offending other people. A device that resembles the form of a pair of glasses or an earphone could seem like a surveillance device and people could get the impression that they are being watched – they don’t like that at all.

Even after settling on the neck band form factor, the FITT360 went through numerous modifications based on various user feedback. “One example? Detachable cameras and battery,” said Junse. “It made sense after we heard the thoughts but was something we didn’t consider enough in the first three iterations.”

Linkflow is open to catering to the various needs of their potential B2B clients

The enormous amount of suggestions Linkflow still receives are almost overwhelming. “Some policemen asked us to add a siren and flashlight, while military officers asked for a heart rate sensor that can read and share vital signals in real-time,” said Junse. “Since those businesses are mostly B2B, we are considering on creating custom models to meet each group’s specific needs. Besides, policemen, firemen, security guards… their uniforms are all different – buttons, shoulder boards, collars, measurements and all – so we need to customize the neck band designs anyway.”

Linkflow believes that this kind of flexibility will help them continue to grow.

Pursuing Continuous Growth

Many start-up businesses decide that survival is enough and seek to maintain status quo once they see a stable business. “Instead, you have to push further,” says Yong-guk. “Samsung’s C-Lab initiative encourages you to keep digging for new ideas and that, I think, is what got us to where we are.” And that is what Linkflow plans to continue to do.

“Competitors can copy the shell of our product but they don’t know how and why we changed each nook and cranny of FITT360 – and details matter,” stresses Yong-guk. “Coming from Samsung, we plan to adopt the same rapid-development strategy you can see in Samsung’s products. We start preparing the next-generation model right after mass production hits, so that by the time your competitors offer something similar, we’re already unveiling the upgraded version and providing the previous one at a better price.” Linkflow believes that better technologies and new ideas will continue to give them the edge and that will help catapult them to the top of the industry.

When first starting the company, Yong-guk Kim asked himself: ‘Will there be another opportunity for me to run a company?’ It was then he decided that he’d do his absolute best to make sure he builds a company that employees enjoy working for

The ultimate goal is to go beyond 360-degree cameras and become a household brand in the content creation industry. “C-Lab provides a strong and systematic support network that helps lay down the foundations and goals of running a business. That’s why we were able to continue to pull through and continue to push further.”

This article is the fourth of a four-part series to celebrate the three-year anniversary of the C-Lab spin-off program. For more information, tap the image below:

Summary

• Started from a project at Samsung’s C-Lab, Cooljamm Company is an IT start-up that develops musical platforms, established by former Samsung engineers with a special passion for music
• Cooljamm Company created HumOn, a mobile app that listens to the user’s vocal sounds and creates a song from the input. The service is gaining worldwide popularity and is available free of charge
• Cooljamm Company is open to business opportunities fields such as education and video music production – not just for profitability but also for a long-term survival plan in the industry
• Building on HumOn’s early success, Cooljamm has been accepted as a Berkeley SkyDeck Cohort team for Fall 2018, where it will continue to develop its new product, Scenergy, an AI music-creating platform for video music
• The leadership of the Cooljamm Company puts ‘trust’ in their employees first for the company’s growth. Experts with and without a background in music are part of the team and are encouraged to adhere to their unique workstyles

Everyone loves music. While some people love a specific genre, one universal truth is that everybody appreciates music, sings to their favorite songs every day, or even hums and makes up their own melodies. But because it’s hard to create, there are no social media services specifically made for music.

The absence of such a music-creating tool was why Samsung Electronics employees – David Choi, Joe Ahn and Youngki Ahn, now leaders of a C-Lab spin-off called Cooljamm Company – gathered at C-Lab in 2015. It is no surprise to say that these three are passionate music lovers. CEO David Cho has experience playing seven instruments including piano, viola, drum and guitar on stage. CTO and Director Youngki Ahn is an excellent piano player, and Director Yukyung Lee, also part of Cooljamm Company, is an electric guitar performer. The team could, in fact, form a band themselves.

Youngki Ahn (left), David Choi (center), and Joe Ahn (right), now leaders of Cooljamm Company, first gathered for a C-Lab project in 2015

It is their love for music that let them begin the biggest technological journey of their lives. Now based in Silicon Valley, the mecca of IT innovation, Cooljamm is flourishing with passion and enthusiasm – trying out more new things and mingling with more people than ever before – to create music services that everyone can enjoy.

The Flagship Products – HumOn and Scenergy

Started as a project at Samsung Electronics’ C-Lab and now an independent application created by Cooljamm Company, HumOn is a mobile application that employs 600 thousand machine-learned chord progressions to let you make a song only by humming. Downloaded over 750 thousand times and constantly a hot topic on sites like Twitter and Reddit, HumOn is gaining more and more popularity among global music enthusiasts.

HumOn, with its intuitive music-making features, already has a large fan base

“Anything can become music with HumOn,” said David Choi, CEO of HumOn. “Let HumOn listen to a baby crying or babbling at home. Funnily enough, the crying and babbling becomes music – into a ballad or whichever musical genre you choose.”

Albeit initially developed in Korea, 70% of HumOn users live outside the peninsula. “It just happened to be that way,” said Choi. “We think it’s the different user preferences. While Korean users tend to show polished, professional-sounding pieces, other users around the world are more open-minded about doing new things and sharing their work at a more conceptual stage.” To date, more than a million melodies have been created with the app.

HumOn won the Music Creation & Education category at the 2017 MIDEMLAB event (Image source: Midem’s twitter account)

Cooljamm Company eventually found out that HumOn users, usually online video creators, also were making background music for their videos with the app. Spotting this opportunity, Cooljamm started developing Scenergy – a dedicated service that makes customized music for videos that are not subject to copyright infringement.

“-Scenergy uses the same technologies as HumOn where melodies can be created in different styles, but the interface design and the use of the service will be a lot different,” commented Choi. While Scenergy is still in the development phase, Cooljamm is confident it will be able to “add energy to scenes” – hence the project name.

In Employees, Cooljamm Trusts

Although the founders each play musical instruments at a better-than-intermediate level, they wanted to polish the artistic touch in the music HumOn produces. So in addition to electronics and software experts, Cooljamm Company hired music professionals, who majored and/or started their career in practical music. Their intuition and insights for music systematization played a big role in converting that knowledge into computer code.

“People are the company’s greatest asset,” Choi stresses

In the process, empowerment and trust have been the keys to Cooljamm’s success. With such a diverse workforce, it is not easy to understand the differences between people. But Choi and company learned that good teams are born in the process of trying to understand each other.  “Everyone has different backgrounds and needs, and wants to do different things. We can’t do much but to trust them,” said Choi. “At Cooljamm Company, we respect each employee’s style and characteristics. It’s not being selfless – it just happens to be the best way to get the most out of people. Working hours are flexible, and employees stick to their own style.”

COO Joe Ahn agreed, “Each great new idea is the result of an accumulation of different ideas that came before it. People are the most critical set of assets of a company. Of course, our customers are important, but the company has to treat its staff best first to provide the best service to its customers.”

An Ever-Learning Process

Much like the app that evolves itself with AI and machine learning, Cooljamm Company has trained itself to continue to learn. For one thing, the company learned that HumOn isn’t just for personal use. The company is continuously fielding requests from educational and musical organizations for collaborations. In fact, Cooljamm Company is already working with a French company to launch a special music education platform in France.

The music industry is also keeping an eye on Cooljamm. “Billboard hit producers are contacting us. They mostly suggest collaboration projects,” said Choi. “Musicians find HumOn interesting in that different sounds can be incorporated into one music piece. Music distributors are also interested because HumOn does not require any copyright fees and is a good tool for making music in bulk by eliminating production costs.”

In addition to learning to explore the B2B space, Cooljamm has also recently encountered another unique opportunity to grow – the company became part of SkyDeck an accelerator program at the University of California, Berkeley. Although there were concerns about physically splitting up the team, especially when the core technologies for Scenergy are still being developed, leadership stuck to its belief in its team members.

Virtual meetings across time zones are now a norm at Cooljamm Company (source: Cooljamm’s instagram account)

With Cooljamm joining as a –receiving support in KPI measurements, management advice and more until November – Cooljamm will now work in two different time zones. The HumOn team will remain in Korea to focus on the app’s marketing and operational capacities. And a separate team will be dispatched to Silicon Valley to take part in the SkyDeck program and develop Scenergy, mainly for the US market.

For Survival and Success in the Music Industry

“The very structure of profitability in the music business is very tightly built, and it’s hard to hit the jackpot within the current structure. We need to find the right spot in the market to find profitability,” said Choi. “What we need to do to survive (as a start-up) is find our own way in the current situation.”

Youngki Ahn (left), David Choi (center) and Joe Ahn (right) say that “survival comes first, especially for a start-up”

“We want to increase the profitability of the HumOn service by introducing in-app advertisements and providing premium services with mixing and arrangement features,” says Ahn. “Besides the app itself, we are planning to enter the online-to-offline market and education market.”

The company is also considering an early launch for Scenergy by this November to secure a sustainable income source sufficient enough to build a social media-based service upon it.

While the company is focusing on its short-term goals to learn and grow, Cooljamm’s management remains confident in their vision. “What’s promising is that music has always been here for thousands of years,” says Choi. “People will always enjoy singing and dancing. And the opportunities to make a living while helping more people enjoy music will always be there.”

This article is the third of a four-part series to celebrate the three-year anniversary of the C-Lab spin-off program. For more information, tap the image below:

Summary

• Yongsoo Jeong, CEO of Mangoslab, made up his mind to leave Samsung Electronics to launch his own spin-off after deciding he had the right people
• Mangoslab’s flagship product ‘nemonic,’ a mini printer that merges digital technology into the analogue experience of sticky notes, started from a project within Samsung but evolved into so much more after continuous input from the experts that Jeong assembled
• Mangoslab continues to enhance nemonic’s user experiences, listening to their loyal customers’ advice
• Jeong hopes to eventually part ways with his partners, smiling as he would help them spin their own businesses off

Yongsoo Jeong was stuck in a dilemma – Should I continue to work at Samsung Electronics or start my own company? Jeong reached out to people who had the same mindset as himself and sought advice.

Jinah Kim, a colleague he previously worked with, remained optimistic even when his current C-Lab project fell through. Sangyeon Kim, a software developer whom Jeong met through a friend, maintained his friendly approach. Hanjun Ko, who had the least idea what he’s signing up for, says he didn’t have a hard time deciding to join Jeong for the spin-off. “When we finished our conversation, I was ready to be a part of the team because of the mindset that he had. I knew that I could work with someone who can think outside of the box.”

Four early members of Mangoslab, creators of nemonic

In 2016, Jeong was ready and he took a leap of faith. And so together with Kim, Kim and Ko, he launched Mangoslab from an internal C-Lab project into an independent startup.

The Flagship Product – nemonic

Since spinning off from Samsung Electronics, Mangoslab has already built an impressive resume. nemonic, the company’s first product received the CES 2017 Best of Innovation Award in the Computer Accessories category. It also won Grand Prix at the Tokyo International Gift Show Spring 2018. Subsequently, Mangoslab saw its sales rapidly rise, motivating the team to keep their efforts going and growing.

nemonic is off to a great start

Mangoslab’s first flagship product, “nemonic,” is a device that instantly prints three-by-three-inch sticky notes from smartphones and tablets. Jeong and his team mapped out a vision for an evolution of the sticky note to fit the digital age; an experience that would transcend the divide in analogue and digital experiences. nemonic allows users to organize all or part of their ideas and reminders, print it out, attach it where they desire and further scribble on it as the need presents itself.

Building on planning and experience from an idea that was initially started within Samsung Electronics, Mangoslab was determined to bear the torch so many colleagues had toiled for and see the project through. When asked how the company quickly took off in just two years, Jeong said, “We built a team of experts and then trusted them wholeheartedly, focusing on supporting what they are good at.”

Fervent Recruiting

Mangoslab believes in the power of people – almost to a fault. “The starting members including myself knew that the spin-off would never make it if we had to do everything by ourselves,” said Jinah Kim, Mangoslab’s Director of Design. “We needed to survive first and in order to lead our spin-off to success, we needed more talent, experts in each respective field, to grow our company.”

Jeong looks back at the rocky recruiting process. “I had years of experience in product development from my years with Samsung Electronics. But I was not at all prepared when issues began to arise during the mass production process. So we sought to hire an expert who had decades of experience in the manufacturing field,” said Jeong. “For Sales and Marketing,” he recalls, “we found a former CEO that had his name all over the job.” The middle-aged manufacturing veteran, in his 50s, took a lot of persuading to work with people decades younger than he. As for the sales-expert-slash-ex-CEO, who was about to go on a multi-year voyage around the world, Jeong went on to literally beg him to push off his planned expedition and join Mangoslab’s cause.

Employees spell out M, for Mangoslab, with their fingers in front of their office in Pangyo, Korea

Other recruits, who were asked to join a startup with not much guarantee, required similar degrees of due diligence. When asked what they’re expected of, Jeong simply says: “Keep doing what you do best.” Today, thanks to Jeong and the company’s continuous efforts, Mangoslab employs 23 members – three additional Samsung Electronics alumni and sixteen ‘external’ recruits – and the company prides itself in having zero dropouts (so far).

Full Empowerment

Similar to their recruiting philosophy, Mangoslab says they believe in letting their people do their jobs. Each person in a small company is the driving force for their cause and Mangoslab’s leaders are determined to see this idea through.

“I realized that it’s better to let each team make decisions like an individual startup,” says Jeong. “You need to let the managers enjoy what they’re doing. A big part of that is relieving them of bureaucratic processes. So for each team, we have a leader that makes decisions and about four members per team to share the burden and learn from each other.”

For example, nemonic is the only mini-printer in the market with a 3-inch module while competing products use a cost-efficient 2-inch module – the result of a product planner’s market insight; a 21 year-old marketer spearheaded a local awareness campaign on social media – an initiative that may not have made it through layers of bureaucracy many office workers run into; the charismatic director of manufacturing was left free to literally run around the factory in his sleeveless undershirt, solving problems as they sprouted.

A very successful awareness campaign involved printing out over 2,000 notes on nemonic to put together a mosaic of a popular comedian

The expertise-comes-first philosophy also manifested itself in product design. Mangoslab initially focused on developing a product that is easy to manufacture. But as the experienced designer attested to providing a premium experience, management agreed to changing the design despite the additional components and steps in assembly it would invoke. As a result, nemonic adopted an unprecedentedly high quality automatic cutter that gives you a clean square finish instead of tear-off edges like cash register receipts. It also features a patented technology that straightens the prints so they don’t curl up.

The top side of nemonic printers are designed so the curves interlock for all four directions

Similarly, the final product features a curvy top rather than a flat square. Jeong trusted the designer’s expertise and decided to go with the design that resembles the shape of swirling paper, reminding the main element that the printer itself symbolizes. Last year, nemonic nabbed the Good Design Award at the Design Intelligence Award ceremony.

Focus on People – Customers, Also

Another important pillar in Mangoslab’s philosophy is sincerity. Jeong and his team are fixated on listening to what their loyal customers have to say. Ideas for updates and additional products have sprung from this process.

“A user who was preparing for the National Teacher Certification Exam in Korea left a request on our homepage,” Jinah recalls. “She was using our product to print test questions she got wrong and make notes for future reference. She wanted us to create a dedicated feature for that.”

Mangoslab created designated apps and features to help students keep track of test problems they answered incorrectly

It’s a popular practice in Korea and Japan to keep a record of the wrong answers a student made in standardized tests. This rang a bell for the Mangoslab and they decided to pursue the idea that resulted in a separate app  helping users separate the desired content from the white background and allowing them to print out clear copies of problems from the tests they took.

The software team also found that some users were business owners who wanted to print quick notes, with personalized messages for their customers, to slap on their deliveries. Some café owners used nemonic instead of industrial point-of-sales systems, to instantly print incoming orders for their baristas – notes that can then be stuck on beverage cups to prevent mix-up.

Ultimate Goal: to Spin Off Mangoslab’s Own Startups

While it may sound uncanny for a startup with 23 employees, CEO Yongsoo Jeong stresses that the main goal for his company is to part ways with each other, smiling. The starting members agreed on three major goals when spinning off from Samsung Electronics. The second and third goals are to create products that consumers love from their hearts and to make nemonic a household brand in the mini printer market.

“The first and most important goal is to part ways smiling,” says Jeong. “If our employees want to leave, we want them to do so knowing that they’ve accomplished their share here and are appreciated. Most ideally, I want to commission them with their own businesses – like how Samsung helped me establish my own business. I learned about entrepreneurship with my C-Lab project and wish to bless my employees with the same kind of opportunity.”

This article is the second of a four-part series to celebrate the three-year anniversary of the C-Lab spin-off program. For more information, tap the image below:

Summary

• Innomdle Lab became the first company to be spun off from C-Lab – Samsung’s idea generation and entrepreneurship program
• Despite early success with its body conductor unit technology, raising 2.2M U.S. Dollars through crowdfunding, the company had to overcome a number of challenges to mass produce the final product – an experience CEO Hyunchul Choi is now eager to share with his peers
• Choi champions the idea of open innovation and encourages his team to develop ideas of their own – hopefully to the point of spinning their own businesses off

Ask any entrepreneur and they’ll tell you that starting a business involves overcoming setbacks and a whole lot of learning along the way.

That’s certainly true for Innomdle Lab. As innovative as their idea is, it caused them to go on a journey of discovery, product refinement and perseverance. But the company’s founder will attest to the fact that this period in the business’ growth was worth it. They now have a product that could change the way we talk.

Hyunchul Choi, former Samsung Electronics researcher, now Founder and CEO of Innomdle Lab

As the first to be given that honor, the founder of Innomdle Lab was in uncharted territory. Although he had access to leading thinkers and experts at Samsung, nothing could have prepared him for what he would face when he launched out on his own as a separate company.

“I would have given up easily if I was on my own,” said Hyunchul Choi, the CEO of Innomdle Lab. “But I saw the efforts of other members for the product, so I just couldn’t give up. I never wanted to give up. I’m working way harder than when I was working for Samsung Electronics. It’s very tiresome, but I gained a lot through the process.”

Game-changing Product

The flagship product from Innomdle Lab is called Sgnl. Using unique body conduction unit technology, Sgnl enables users to take phone calls simply by placing their fingertip on their ear. And only the user can hear the conversation so they can keep their call private. They no longer have to pick up their phone to call – they can fit conversations into their busy schedules by making calls easily on the move. Driving this technology is a body conduction unit that looks like a regular watch strap. It connects to the user’s smartphone via Bluetooth and contains an embedded microphone that picks up the user’s end of the conversation.

Sgnl WB-S50, Innomdle Lab’s first product offering, is the world’s first wristband to feature BCU technology

Sgnl sounds as futuristic as it does convenient and the product has quickly captured the imagination of backers who rushed to support the product on Kickstarter and Indiegogo. Innomdle Lab set a precedent here too. It was the first C-Lab company to successfully crowdfund their product this way. It was also one of the largest amounts a crowdfunding project from Korea has ever raised. The project now has an army of supporters who want to see Sgnl succeed.

Good Vibrations

Although Innomdle Lab had the backing and blessing from Samsung, it was still a challenging journey to get to market. The company had to deal with suppliers, attract and communicate with financial backers – all while adjusting to life as a startup after working for a large corporation like Samsung. It was tough but it formed a valuable part of the learning process for the company.

One key learning came early on in the development of Sgnl: just because a product is innovative, doesn’t mean everyone will automatically want to use it. A former brain science student, Choi had insight into how the brain and connected nerves relate to each other and relay information.

He wanted the Sgnl to use electrostimulation to enable users to privately make phone calls that others nearby couldn’t hear. But when he attended a C-Lab fair with his prototype, nobody felt comfortable enough with the concept and they didn’t want to try the product. It was back to the drawing board. He had to completely redesign the product using vibration technology instead.

Sgnl WB-S50 was modified over and over again before settling on a stable, flexible, mass-production-ready final product

“I was worried about the product looking less innovative, because the users had to put a finger on an ear to make a call so I conducted global consumer research with a mockup model,” said Choi. “As a result, I found out that people liked putting a finger on an ear. They liked it more, because it was a traditional motion of making a phone call, it felt more intuitive, and you could let other people know that you were on the phone.”

But what felt like a setback opened up new opportunities. Everyone has different bone structures so the same vibration pattern can create different signals for each person. This could be used as a security tool in the future in the similar ways to fingerprints and irises. For example, this technology could be used in the future to open doors just by holding the doorknobs that recognize the unique vibration patterns, nullifying the need of a separate key.

The Right Partners

Despite the promising potentials of body conduction technology, mass production for Sgnl presented a series of challenges. Innomdle Lab had to work with partners to create the circuits, mouldings and injections. Over a three-year period, the company was spurned by many potential partners and let down by many others who over-promised and under-delivered.

“Many of them didn’t even let us in for a meeting, and we had to beg for them to make our products even if we were paying for that,” said Choi. “Startups have to find good partner companies. We have changed manufactures many times and the launch was delayed for about a year. In terms of money, this cost us an estimated loss of one billion won.”

“Most startups in Korea are software companies,” explains Choi. “We didn’t have anyone to ask for advice on manufacturing partners. It was a tough learning experience finding the able and reliable ones.”

With these experiences now in his rear-view mirror, Choi advocates for startups, especially fellow C-Lab spin-offs, to share information with each other about their experiences with partners to help others from falling into similar cycles of delays and losses.

The Road Ahead

But it all paid off. Innomdle Lab now has a product they’re happy with and they’re in a place where they can mass produce the Sgnl product. For Choi, he’s glad he was able to persevere and learn more about his product, the target market, the technology, and more importantly, himself as an entrepreneur.

Innomdle Lab was founded on the vision of being a medley of innovation. The ethos is based on the fact that most startups live and die by a single product, and if that product fails, the entire company follows suit. Innomdle Lab believes it can continue to innovate as long as it can maintain its processes. Although Sgnl is a long time in the making, the second product was only in development for seven months.

Based on continuous R&D, Innomdle Lab is already expanding its hearable device portfolio

The company is working hard to keep the drum beating with another noise cancelling hearable device coming up as well as technologies outside of the audio product category in the R&D pipeline.

Continuing the Tradition of Open Innovation

Choi places a great emphasis on the importance of the C-Lab project and the opportunity he has been able to pursue that would have been much more difficult otherwise. He remains a strong supporter of the incubator/spin-off model to the point that he plans to replicate it in his own company. His door also remains open for other C-Lab spin-off companies who follow after him.

“Everyone here is very talented, but they are currently working for a small startup. They have to be rewarded for their sacrifices and ambitions,” said Choi. “I want to give my team members the chances to start their own companies and for Innomdle Lab to be an academy for them to acquire the necessary skills to do so. By doing this, we can create a medley of innovations that expands beyond my company. I want to keep creating new cycles of innovation.”

Members of Innomdle Lab’s Pangyo office demonstrate where to place your finger when using a Sgnl WB-S50 device

Choi was fortunate in that he had a lot of support at the spin-off stage from Samsung Electronics’ management. There were a lot of naysayers who suggested to Choi and the other C-Lab startups that this was simply another way to lay off staff. But one staff member put this assertion to an executive, who oversaw the spin-off initiative, directly in a meeting.

“I still remember his answer,” Choi recalled. “He said that Samsung Electronics cannot commercialize every idea, no matter how hard you work on the project. He saw many small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) or startups succeed based on those ideas.” Samsung wants to give chances to such brilliant ideas and the people who worked hard for the opportunities “and it would be even better if the entrepreneurs could build on the expertise they honed in Samsung,” Choi recalls the president saying. “If the spin-off companies survive for five, or 10 years in the jungle of competition, then Samsung would ultimately be contributing to the larger tech community. Wouldn’t that be a great way for large and small innovation companies to coexist?”

This article is the first of a four-part series to celebrate the three-year anniversary of the C-Lab spin-off program. For more information, tap the image below:

It’s hot. Scorching hot. And it’s dark. The thick smoke threatens to penetrate his air-tight mask – it won’t, but it’s still effectively blocking his sight.

‘What would I do if my kids were left in a blaze like this? Heck, what if I don’t make it back?’

No. Not the time to let thoughts wander. Focus. Let the training kick back in. Floor, left, ceiling, right, clear; left foot. Floor, left, ceiling, right, clear, right foot. The firefighter continues to search the burning building, knowing he has mere minutes, maybe seconds, left to find the victims.

While the account above is fictitious, real-life emergency responder Han Gyeong-Seung of the Dongducheon Fire Department had been in a similar situation; only to face the tragedy of finding a victim after the fire was fully extinguished. Realizing there had to be a better way to navigate through a fire scene, Han reached out to Samsung Tomorrow Solutions in May, 2016.

Continue to read the full story (1,215 words) below, or jump to the summary (83 words) here.

A fireman demonstrates IGNIS in a simulated fire

The Blazing Contradiction

Fire is supposed to give light, not take it. The contradiction is almost funny – would have been if not for the scarring aftermath fires tend to leave behind. Of the many difficulties firefighters wrestle with, securing clear sight amidst blackouts and smoke-filled rooms is one of the deadliest. Insufficient vision not only makes it difficult for emergency responders to navigate the smoky labyrinth of live fire scenes but can also prevent them from spotting victims or locating the source of the fire in time.

A Solution… Which Is Also a Problem

One solution is to arm firefighters with thermal observation devices (TODs) which use thermal imaging cameras to highlight heat sources – usually survivors’ body heat or the origin of fire – against the rest of the scene. The problem? They’re difficult to use, heavy and expensive.

This infrared image, from the 1st field test, is similar to what firefighters can see using IGNIS

Conventional TODs for firefighters were mainly designed for a team rather than as a personal device for each member. The emergency response unit would have to rely on a designated operator to run to and fro to be the eyes for the whole team, limiting the effectiveness of this equipment.

Moreover, conventional TODs weigh around two kilograms, which is a hefty addition to the 20-to-40 kilograms of gear firefighters already have to bear. As with any physically challenging activity, every gram shed counts in improving performance.

And costing about 20 million Korean Won (roughly 19,000 US dollars) per device, many fire stations aren’t able to secure this equipment with their limited budget. The typical Korean fire station may have one or two of these – or none at all.

In a nutshell, they were oversized, clunky and expensive cameras little different from the ones used in research facilities.

In Search of Tomorrow’s Solutions

Samsung Tomorrow Solutions, the contest Han entered, is a social contribution competition where Samsung Electronics searches for social innovation ideas to fund and co-develop. The idea of a goal-specific TOD, aimed to assist men and women who risk their lives daily to save others, was met with open arms.

IGNIS, a thermal observation device customized for firefighters

This project, dubbed IGNIS, won grand prize in each the two years it took part in Samsung Tomorrow Solutions – IDEA Grand Prize in the first year (2016), winning critical prize money as well as additional funds to help further develop the idea, and IMPACT Grand Prize the following year (2017), providing the team still additional funds as well as support from Samsung Electronics’ engineers to help realize the solution. In 2017, a 5-person C-Lab team was designated to help expedite the IGNIS development process.

Design, Prototype, Test, Repeat

The goal was clear-cut from the beginning: A compact, easier-to-use, cost-effective thermal optical device that can withstand extreme conditions. The requirements for IGNIS were so different from conventional TODs that searching for incremental improvements didn’t make sense. So the team went to the drawing board and started from scratch.

Over the course of three prototypes, three field tests and multiple surveys, the IGNIS team sought advice from 104 real firefighters, whose collective experience added up to roughly 800 years.

The IGNIS team worked with local firefighters to fully understand their needs for a thermal imaging system

First, according to the firefighters’ feedback, the function was narrowed down to a simple, practical real-time viewing option. No screen capture; no multiple viewing modes; no excessively high resolution to burden the image processing unit; no replaceable batteries. Such changes would allow the team to build devices that are much more cost-efficient than previously-available TODs.

Doing away with unnecessary features also helped simplify the user interface down to two buttons, instead of the plethora of buttons and arrow keys.

ARTIK 710 module (left) and developer kit (source: https://www.artik.io/media/)

Second, with a focus on reducing size and weight, the IGNIS team designed the circuit around ARTIK 710, an IoT-ready module with basic processing, memory, and connectivity features in a single package. Leveraging the expertise and experience in creating cutting-edge mobile devices and eliminating unnecessary components, the team was able to reduce the size and weight drastically – down to 350 grams.

Finally, the case too, was reimagined to free up both hands of the firefighter. Taking a precious hand away from a firefighter limits the unit’s fire-fighting and rescuing capacity – that’s a hand that could have been taking down obstacles, holding a hose, carrying a victim, or assisting the other hand in doing more demanding tasks.

After countless designs, mockups and prototypes, IGNIS settled on a compact shell about the size of a hand axe from the Stone Age for ease of use. IGNIS also features a latch – it can be attached to the mask, on shoulders, or other compatible accessories where the user sees fit.

Real firefighters provided continuous insight throughout the IGNIS development process

20 months after the initial idea proposition, IGNIS came to be a compact, stow-almost-anywhere, easily retrievable, easy-to-use, heat-enduring device that’s 70% lighter than conventional TODs.

In November, the team produced 1,000 units and donated them to fire departments, safety centers and National Counter-Terrorism centers throughout Korea.

From idea to reality – the 20-month journey of IGNIS

Real-Life Testimonies

1,000 IGNIS devices have been commissioned for about half a year now, and Han has set up a digital forum to share information about the device. The following are stories from firefighters that have used IGNIS in real life:

Seulchan Jeong (Bucheon Fire Department): Just this February, we received a call reporting smoke but couldn’t find the source in the multi-residence building. Using IGNIS, we were able to spot a sealed room that was 4℃ hotter than the others to find a suicide attempt using charcoal smoke. I’m happy to report that we were able to save another life.

Anonymous (Daegu Fire Department): We had a motel fire. The building had maze-like corridors and we didn’t have information on which rooms were occupied. We used IGNIS to do quick visual sweeps of each room and were able to save all guests in the establishment.

Anonymous (Dongducheon Fire Department): We thought we had an electric fire – smoke was coming out of a power outlet. But upon double-checking with IGNIS, we learned that the strongest hot spot was in the ceiling. Quickly finding the source of the fire, we were able to eliminate all threats before more serious damages occurred.

Anonymous (Gangwon Fire Department): We had put out the major flames in a recent textile factory fire. Using IGNIS we were able to quickly locate and put out residual fire as well. Otherwise, we would have had to open all the hatches in the pipes and machinery and fully sweep the ceiling to confirm complete extinguishment, which would have been very time-consuming and potentially dangerous.

Changmin Ji (Gimpo Fire Department): In addition to fires, IGNIS has proven useful in marine rescue activities, too. Victims’ body heat stands out in the cold water so TODs become very handy, especially at night.

Anonymous (Incheon Fire Department): IGNIS made me think of my fallen colleagues – many would have survived if we had more TODs in the field.

About Samsung Tomorrow Solutions

Created in 2013, Samsung Tomorrow Solutions is an open social contribution contest that helps people pursue and realize ideas to change society for the better through technical solutions.

Samsung Electronics selects submissions under four categories – Education, Health-Medical, Environment-Safety, and Local Community – and provides support as well as financial prizes to the winners. For ideas that have particularly great potential, the company can invest additional assets including financial, technical and human resources, to further develop the solution.

This year’s Samsung Tomorrow Solutions contest is already underway. For more details, visit: https://www.tomorrowsolutions.org

• Samsung Electronics helped create IGNIS, a personal thermal observation device (TOD) customized for firefighters that is affordable, compact and 70% lighter than conventional TODs
• Project IGNIS was initiated by a firefighter who submitted his idea to Samsung Tomorrow Solutions, an open social contribution contest for ideas to change the world through technical solutions
• A designated C-Lab team helped expedite the development process
• 1,000 IGNIS devices have been donated to fire departments, safety centers and National Counter-Terrorism centers throughout Korea

Indoor Smart Garden Solution PLANTBOX

AGWART created ‘PLANTBOX,’ an indoor smart garden solution that enables users to easily grow vegetables and herbs at home. PLANTBOX consists of a smart greenhouse similar to a small refrigerator, seed capsules and an app. Users only need to insert the seed capsule of choice, and PLANTBOX automatically detects the species of the seed and optimizes its internal environment including lighting, temperature, humidity, air quality and nutrients. Users are also able to monitor and control the environment via app.

Portable Directional Speaker ‘S-Ray’

CATCH FLOW developed ‘S-Ray,’ a portable directional speaker. Unlike conventional speakers which spread out sound in all directions, S-Ray sends the sound directly forward so only the people in the right direction can hear it. Overcoming technical difficulties from previous researches, CATCH FLOW was able to build a smaller, lighter device – only one tenth the size of a conventional directional speaker. Compared to previous solutions, S-Ray also runs on lower power without impacting volume or sound quality.

AI-based Research Platform ‘AppBee’

FOR MAKERS built ‘AppBee,’ a research platform that connects clients and users based on mobile usage patterns. AppBee, after users’ opt-in, predicts their characteristics by analysing their mobile usage patterns and automatically matches the users to suitable clients through AI-based algorithms. FOR MAKERS hopes to produce more reliable research results at a lower cost compared to conventional, untargeted surveys to enable creators – start-ups and large corporations alike – to refine products based on user feedback.

The three new start-ups have engaged in business consulting and mentoring programs with field experts for the past three months, to obtain business know-how and prepare for the successful spinoff. They have officially left Samsung Electronics as of May 31, 2018.

A number of C-Lab alumni are already proving to be fruitful. 2017 spin-off Monit will be launching its first commercial product ‘Monit by Huggies’ – a baby diaper sensor that distinguishes between urine and feces and notifies parents – in partnership with Yuhan-Kimberly this June. Monit is also planning to expand to inconsistence briefs for adults, for use in hospitals and senior care centers. Linkflow, which develops wearable cameras, saw its value increase 20-fold, after it was spun off in 2016. Linkflow’s FITT360 Security camera has especially been attracting attention from security companies around the world.

“During the past three years, 34 start-ups with 130 employees were spun off from C-Lab and they have hired an additional 170 people from outside of Samsung,” said Jaiil Lee, Vice President and Head of Creativity & Innovation Center at Samsung Research. “We will continue to give opportunities to our employees to realize their innovative ideas as an entrepreneur in start-ups accelerated by Samsung.”

About Samsung Electronics’ C-Lab

Created in December 2012, C-Lab is an in-house idea incubation program that encourages a creative corporate culture and nurtures innovative ideas from Samsung employees. The program supports the development of ideas from all areas of the business. Introduced in 2015, the C-Lab spin-off policy helps Samsung employees who have successfully completed C-Lab projects to launch their own start-ups.

The Samsung Galaxy Upcycling program allows Galaxy phone owners to retrofit the hardware and software of antiquated, used Galaxy phones into new technology products such as closed circuit TVs, gaming consoles, and IoT devices. The program puts the tools for transforming devices into new technology in consumers’ hands by providing them with the necessary software changes and suggested hardware changes that enable new functionality. The program was created from the company’s innovation hub, C-Lab, and will launch in 2018.

“The Galaxy Upcycling program provides an innovative and environmentally responsible approach to consumers who want to repurpose their existing technology to have new and differentiated functionality,” said Michael Lawder, Senior Vice President of Customer Care at Samsung Electronics America. “We’re honored to receive this award for our Galaxy Upcycling program and for our continuous efforts in sustainability throughout the product lifecycle.”

This is the second time in 2018 that the Galaxy Upcycling program has been recognized in the U.S. for its innovative re-use and recycling efforts. In January, the Galaxy Upcycling program received the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Cutting Edge Champion Award.

The Environmental Leader Awards recognizes companies that provide innovative technology and solutions to sustainability and environmental problems. In addition, Dr. Dochul Choi, Senior Vice President of R&D at Samsung Electronics America, was honored as a Top 75 2018 Environmental Leader for his efforts in driving sustainability management. The awards were presented yesterday in Denver, CO at a ceremony during the Environmental Leader & Energy Manager Conference.

More information about Samsung’s sustainability initiatives can be found at https://news.samsung.com/us/sustainability/.

In this article, Samsung Newsroom introduces technologies which Samsung is developing to provide accessibility for “anyone and everyone,” and have the potential to dramatically help those with disabilities, the elderly, and many others.

A Samsung Electronics “Smart Angel” volunteer is guiding a person with an impaired vision how to make better use out of a smartphone.

Galaxy S9 and S9+ adds three new high-contrast keyboards

With mobile devices being essential to so many activities in daily life, Samsung has also focused on equipping its smartphones with more specific accessibility features including high-contrast features for smartphones. Also, this year, Samsung’s new Galaxy S9 and S9+ smartphones have added three new high-contrast keyboards, for a total of four, and also support High Contrast Mode for the Internet App to satisfy the growing needs for accessibility.

Galaxy smartphones provide many accessibility features for visibility, hearing and dexterity. The Voice Assistant describes what you touch, select, and activate through spoken feedback, and allows visually impaired users to edit text or change settings with familiar swipe and tap gestures. The smartphones can also aid those with hearing impairment by catching the sound of a doorbell ringing or a baby crying and notifies the user through visual cues and vibration. Users can access features on their smartphones by giving voice commands or simple motions.

Samsung Galaxy S9’s four different high contrast keyboards (left), and the Samsung Internet App in high contrast mode.

Samsung DeX connects a smartphone to a larger display and provides better navigation for people with limited mobility or vision. Bixby assists even further. Visually impaired people can easily identify an item in front of them with Bixby Vision, which uses the phone’s camera app to relay information about one’s surroundings. Bixby Voice also eliminates the need to go through multiple steps to accomplish a mobile task, allowing users, for instance, to dictate and send a text to a friend or check their daily schedule with a simple voice command.

“Because the Galaxy S9 can transcribe what I would like to say in a message, I can save a lot of time and energy by not having to type it. In this way, Bixby instills in me a sense of confidence when communicating with others,” said Gwangman Moon, who has impaired vision.

Fundación ONCE, the National Organization of the Blind in Spain, recognized the Galaxy S8 as “a device that is properly equipped for visually impaired users” in July last year. Inho Baek Samsung’s Mobile Accessibility UX Designer, received the Human Rights Award 2017 by the Korean government as a recognition of his efforts to provide improved accessibility.

In addition, Samsung’s Creative Lab (C-Lab) is also actively developing practical technologies to help people with disabilities. For instance, Relúmĭno, a visual assistant app that helps visually impaired people see the world more clearly, has been a recent, notable creation.

“SeeColors” breaks down the ‘Color Barrier’ for 300 million around the world

Samsung has already introduced accessibility functions to their TVs, including a high-contrast feature for background and text, and voice feedback of features on the TV and remote control. Thanks to these efforts, Samsung has been awarded CES Innovation Awards in the Accessible Tech category for four consecutive years since 2015.

In 2018, Samsung further upgraded the accessibility functions of its QLED TVs and UHD TVs. Now, users can adjust the colors of the menu in line with their vision, and interchange the color of the text and background between black and white, and use an industry-first function to adjust the location of the subtitles on screen. Another standout feature is the “SeeColors” app designed to help the 300 million people living with color blindness around the world, and developed in collaboration with the Budapest University of Technology and Economics. The app recognizes the color vision deficiency level of a viewer, and then automatically optimizes the colors for the user.

“We will continue our research and development of accessibility features in our TV development, so that everyone can enjoy an optimized viewing experience,” said Jonghee Han, Head of Visual Display Business, Samsung Electronics.

Bixby for easier use of home appliances

This year, Samsung has embedded the Bixby voice recognition feature into its new home appliances, including Family Hub refrigerator in Korea and the U.S. For instance, you can just ask “Hi Bixby, what’s new today?” and the Family Hub will provide a read out of the news, weather and calendar updates specifically tailored to the user.

Samsung also was able to provide 150 washers and dryers, including FlexWash powered by Bixby, to the athlete’s village of the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games in March, to further share its recent innovations in accessibility with the wider public.

A member of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) is testing out FlexWash that improved accessibility with AI technology at the athlete’s village of the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games.

A visually impaired individual who tested the FlexWash at home during the development process said, “While laundry may be a simple daily task for others, it can be difficult for those with visual impairment. With FlexWash, I was able to do laundry on my own for the first time in my life.”

Samsung’s home appliance technologies hone in on detail to provide greater accessibility. For instance, the Family Hub provides features including Black and White, Menu Color Conversion, and font size adjustment, to cater to those with visual impairments in the U.S. The devices also provide spoken feedback about the features of the device or the buttons on the remote control. This year, the home appliances were also upgraded to produce a different sound effect upon activating each function. For example, now people with vision impairments can monitor the temperature level of the refrigerator, or different laundry cycles of a washing machine through different sound effects.

Samsung will actively apply IoT and Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies in future launches to provide improved accessibility and allow devices to activate the most suitable features for every user.

Focusing on solutions for the real-life inconveniences of people with disabilities

Samsung’ Digital Appliances Division invited a volunteer panel of users with visual impaired people to the HeX Lab* in its Seoul R&D Center, to hear about their inconveniences when they use digital appliances in daily life. The division continues to improve accessibility by engaging and listening to the feedback of organizations supporting those with disabilities every month, and is also undertaking joint research with Korean universities related to development of accessibility.

Every year, Samsung’s TV developers also conduct tests with groups of people with disabilities and experts in order to reflect their opinions during development. Often, Samsung employees with disabilities also participate in development and tests for accessibility features to provide their feedback.

Developers at Samsung Electronics are discussing the Galaxy smartphones’ accessibility features with “Samsung Supporters”.

Since 2016, Samsung’s Mobile Division has also sponsored the “Samsung Supporters” program to communicate with users with disabilities in order to improve accessibility together. In addition, Samsung gives presentations about accessibility feature regularly, and is conducting “Smart Angel” volunteer activities for the fifth year this year to guide visually impaired users how to make better use out of smartphones.

“I feel proud to be able to contribute to the improvement of smart device accessibility,” said an ambassador with impaired hearing. “I’ve learned a lot about accessibility through communicating with Samsung, and now I’m also sharing with others how to better use these features.”

^*The research lab is built similarly to mimic a real home.

^**Disclaimer: The functions or features mentioned in this article may vary according to product type and region.

TOONSQUARE:

An AI-based Text-to-Toon (TTT) application that offers users a fun and easy way to make cartoons that tell their unique story.

How it Works

How it Uses AI

• Toonsquare uses AI to analyze the text input, determining what the context is and what facial/body expressions should accompany the character
• Toonsquare also uses AI to determine facial features including the length and curviness of hair as well as accessories like glasses off a real-life image, and then call up the most appropriate parts from the database
• In both cases, continuous learning is key and so the team built a separate website to enhance the learning

Inspiration

• Ho-young Lee, a UX designer by profession, drew lifestyle web cartoons as a hobby and actually grew a fan base, only to be find out how hard it is to find the time to draw cut by cut while working a day job.
• Ho-young then ran into AI developers in the company and found out he could automate much of the process

Aspiration

• Eventually, the team hopes to develop TOONSQUARE into a fun and creative social networking service where people can generate and share their own cartoons from their own inspirations.

Aurora:

A smartphone app and device that projects a pseudo hologram of a cute intelligent assistant. Capable of recognizing gestures and commands, Aurora offers users a more intuitive way to interact with their smart devices.

How it Works

How it Uses AI

• Aurora utilizes an open-source AI engine to figure out what the user is asking for and provide appropriate feedback – whether it be weather information or carrying out voice/gesture commands
• Additionally, Aurora also learns users emotions and provides visual feedback including facial expressions and gestures the hologram makes

Inspiration

• Members saw a movie where the lead character falls in love with an AI persona and saw potential for a more sympathetic AI assistant
• The team also wanted to increase accessibility to AI assistants, which in many cases price is a hurdle

Aspiration

• To create an AI assistant that can be used more naturally and conveniently across a wider range of smartphones.

GADGET:

A real-time ad auction platform that makes it easy for advertisers to insert their content as native objects (ones that are already a part of the game, like billboards in the background or items gamers may use) rather than intrusive pop-ups.

How it Works

How it Uses AI

• GADGET analyzes information that is available (which may vary by game, region, etc.) such as age, gender and interests to offer relevant ads to gamers in a non-intrusive manner

Inspiration

• Changsoo Moon has work experience in gaming and advertising companies where he always found it difficult to place products (PPL) or ads in content
• As gamers, all of whom have started gaming since the 8-bit console days, the team members also found it annoying when ads would interfere with game play

Aspiration

• GADGET was designed as an “all-in-one gadget”; a “Swiss Army knife,” so to say, for advertising services that is useful for advertisers, developers and gamers alike.

The projects will be exhibited at the Austin Convention Center (Exhibition Hall 3; Stand #1538) from March 11–14.

Members of Toonsquare, Aurora, and GADGET pose before heading to Austin, TX for SXSW 2018

Toonsquare wants to democratize cartoon-making by introducing AI and smartphones to the process

Aurora aims to add new dimensions – emotion and visual feedback – to AI assistants

GADGET wants to make both gamers and advertisers happy

The three new C-Lab projects are:

• Toonsquare, an artificial intelligence application which automatically converts a sentence into a cartoon, allowing users to easily make their own cartoons. The app first allows users to choose a character from the pre-sets the app offers or create a character based on pictures of themselves. Second, the app analyses text put in by the user to figure out the emotion and movements implied in the sentence. It then recommends proper facial expressions as well as appropriate gestures of the character. Backgrounds, fonts, and speech bubbles can also be customized to create a cartoon or a picture diary.

• Aurora, a smartphone app and deck that shows a visualized 3D character assistant, enabling users to interact emotionally with the assistant. While existing voice assistants provide the information only with voice, Aurora gives intuitive user experience by giving information visually onto the display of the device. Aurora also recognizes gestures and the location of the user through the camera of the smartphone, allowing for a more intuitive interface.

• GADGET, a real-time ad auction platform for in-game ads. Most in-game ads are pop-up or interstitial ads which tend to interfere with gamers’ experiences. GADGET helps the ads blend into the game by serving them as native objects in areas like billboards in the background. Game developers can easily import the GADGET plug-in to place ads with just a few clicks. Ads are sold to advertisers real-time via automated trading platform. The ad content is updated in real-time, interfacing with the GADGET server, and can be targeted based on gamers’ preferences.

Since its SXSW debut in 2015, C-Lab has introduced various projects in the field of music, art, and interactive technologies, to validating business opportunities and getting user feedback to refine the prototypes to reach market fit.

“The majority of ideas that have been proposed recently aim to utilize artificial intelligence to solve inconveniences in daily life,” said Jaiil Lee, Vice President and Head of the Creativity & Innovation Center at Samsung Electronics. “We hope to see these ideas in action in the near future.”.

Created in December 2012, C-Lab is an in-house idea incubation program that encourages a creative corporate culture and nurtures innovative ideas from Samsung employees. C-Lab projects that are closely related to Samsung business are transferred to in-house division for further development

Since 2015, Samsung has also supported other successfully completed projects, that are not transferred to business units, to be launched as an independent company as a fully-fledged start-up via the C-Lab Spin-Off program.

With approximately 50 million tons of electronics discarded worldwide in the last year alone, innovations that improve sustainability and prolong the lifespan of devices are welcome. ‘Galaxy Upcycling’, a project team of C-Lab, Samsung Electronics’ in-house incubator, gave new life to old smartphones and won an award along the way.

Passionate about the environment, the 11-man ‘Galaxy Upcycling’ team repurposes older models of Galaxy smartphones and finds ingenious ways to link them to everyday objects and connect them to the Internet of Things (IoT). Upcycling preserves many of an original product’s materials, reworking or reconstructing them to give the product a new function.

How Galaxy Phones are Have Been Repurposed

Bonding over their nostalgia for old electronics, the ‘Galaxy Upcycling’ team saw great potential in previous models of Samsung’s flagship Galaxy devices. Only a few years old, the phones were still too smart to be gathering dust in drawers at home.

The devices are equipped with built-in cameras and network modules, meaning they could still take pictures and connect to the internet. With these functions, the team quickly realized that the Galaxy phones could be attached to everyday items, transforming them from unconnected objects into a whole range of IoT devices.

Team members looked all around them for objects to connect. The Smart Fish Tank and Smart Pet Bowl, for example were inspired by family pets. Thanks to its upgrade, Smart Fish Tank can now feed the fish whenever the owner sends a text message, and the Smart Pet Bowl sends a photograph whenever a pet cat eats from the bowl.

Building an IoT Community

By upcycling in this way, the possibilities for connected devices seem endless. The team hope to speed up the process of connecting everyday objects in our lives to the Internet of Things.

The project operates on an open-platform principle, encouraging people outside the team to create their own IoT devices using old Galaxy smartphones. Galaxy Upcycling will share its progress, as well as guidelines for the software and hardware they have developed.

What started as a team of 11, has become a whole community of upcycling enthusiasts. More than 6,000 people have signed up for notifications on the official Galaxy Upcycling website. the C-Lab project is now finished (completed), the teammates have moved back to their jobs in the Mobile Communications Business.

The team was recognized for their commitment to sustainability by the American Environmental Protection Agency and presented with the Cutting Edge Champion Award at the Sustainable Materials Management Awards 2017 in November of last year.

Check out the video to find out more about Galaxy Upcycling.

“Since launching five years ago, our C-Lab program has gained exciting momentum across Samsung, helping foster an innovation culture, and providing avenue for our creative, talented employees to pursue innovative new projects. We will continuously introduce innovative projects through our C-Lab program” said Jaiil Lee, Vice President and Head of the Creativity & Innovation Center at Samsung Electronics.

The three new C-Lab projects include:

• S-Ray (Sound-Ray) is a portable directional speaker which users can carry anywhere. While existing directional speakers are primarily stationary due to their size and price, S-Ray is a directional speaker that is made much smaller, lighter and portable with its unique system module while maintaining the advantages of conventional directional speakers and/or earphones. S-Ray helps people avoid having to put on earphones for a long time which can cause ear pain, and avoids the distractions to others Bluetooth speakers can cause. At CES 2018, S-Ray will showcase a variety of product options such as Neckband, Handy and smartphone cover.

• GoBreath is a recovery solution for people who have experienced lung damage and suffer from postoperative pulmonary complications after general anesthesia. Patients commonly need to exercise deep breathing for faster recovery, with one of the conventional methods through use of an inspirometer. However, deep breathing becomes challenging for patients who have undergone surgery due to lung pain. A doctor at Samsung Medical Center came up with the concept of GoBreath, which helped his patients recover faster, and consists of a portable device and mobile app that can teach patients basic techniques such as inspiration, coughing or deep breathing. Patients can refer to exercise guidelines and check how well their lungs have recovered through the app. GoBreath even offers a web and cloud service for doctors to help them monitor their patients’ recovery progress as well as provide reminders to practice.

• Relúmĭno glasses are smart visual aid eyeglasses to help people with vision challenges see images clearer when they are reading a book or viewing an object. The Relúmĭno app was first showcased at Mobile World Congress 2017, and Relúmĭno glasses were subsequently developed to enable people with visual impairments to utilize the technology more comfortably and discreetly. The glasses work in conjunction with a smartphone, utilizing its processors and batteries, which makes Relúmĭno glasses light and comfortable to wear. The smartphone processes images from videos projected through the camera of the glasses, and the processed images are floated into the display of the Relúmĭno glasses to help the wearer see things better.

In addition to these projects, seven start-ups which have been spun off from Samsung C-Lab, including LINKFLOW, Kitten Planet, lululab, KIDSOFT, Mangoslab, Innomdle lab, and analogue plus, will participate at CES 2018 to showcase their newly released commercial products and explore global business opportunities.

As notable example, the wearable camera FITT360 by LINKFLOW was awarded the CES 2018 Innovation Award in the Digital Imaging category. Initially, the start-up focused on personal travelers in the B2C market, but recently has been focusing on a B2B model for the security industry with a model which features extended battery capacity.

Created in December 2012, C-Lab is an in-house idea incubation program that encourages a creative corporate culture and nurtures innovative ideas from Samsung employees. The program supports the development of ideas from all areas of the business. Introduced in 2015, the C-Lab spin-off policy helps Samsung employees who have successfully completed C-Lab projects to launch their own start-ups. Samsung supports the spin-off companies through seed money investment and business consulting to accelerate their growth, while guaranteeing their independent management.

For more information, please visit the booth #51765~#51774 in Sands, Hall G (Eureka Park Marketplace) from January 9 – 12, 2018.

Appendix

1. LINKFLOW (www.linkflow.co.kr)

‘LINKFLOW’ has developed a neckband-form wearable 360 camera that records full HD video from the first-person viewpoint. The video can be broadcast in real time using automatic stitching technology. Originally, its main target customers were personal travelers and sports athletes, but it has found a new business opportunity in the security market after its spin-off. The commercial B2B model will be shipped to security companies around the world.

2. Kitten Planet (www.brushmon.com)

‘Kitten Planet’ has launched an ultrasound toothbrush called ‘Brush Monster’ for kids to educate them on how to brush effectively using an augmented reality (AR) guide. Children can enjoy toothbrushing through fun features like collecting Monster images and sharing selfie photos.

3. lululab (www.lulu-lab.com)

‘lululab’ has developed the artificial intelligence (AI) skincare assistant, Lumini. The AI algorithm captures and analyzes face images to predict skin troubles intelligently and suggests best products to customers based on accumulated measurement data. The solution can be implemented in various device forms, e.g. portable device, KIOSK, and signage.

4. KIDSOFT (www.kidsoft.kr)

‘KIDSOFT’ has developed the ‘Carrie Watch’ that helps kids to develop good habits and improve their cognitive ability. Children can plan activities with their parents using the watch, and receive rewards for accomplishing the task correctly. In addition, parents can also measure their children’s ability to pay attention through the device. The company completed a joint research project with Seoul National University Hospital to develop a model of children’s behavior development using the watch.

5. Mangoslab (www.mangoslab.com)

‘Mangoslab’ has successfully launched its smart sticky notes printer called ‘nemonic’. Users can print free memos and useful built-in templates via their smartphone. The data can be stored and managed in a cloud server and up to 20 people can share the device at the same time using Bluetooth connectivity.

6. Innomdle Lab (www.mysgnl.com)

‘Innomdle Lab’ has developed an innovative watch strap ‘sgnl’ that generates vibrations when a voice signal is received through Bluetooth. The vibrations transmit through your hand to your fingertip. When you place your fingertip to your ear, the vibrations change back to voices. The device enables people to make and take phone calls without worrying about privacy issues in a silent environment. The company successfully raised over USD two million in crowdfunding and will ship products to backers soon.

7. analogue plus (www.analogue-plus.com)

‘analogue plus’ has developed a smart communication device ‘Ahead’ for helmet users. Both hands and ears can remain free while using the gadget attached on a helmet. Motorcycle and bike riders, skiers, and workers in dangerous environments can safely answer phone calls and enjoy music using ‘Ahead.’

The movie was produced by Hur Jin-ho, a Korean film director and screenwriter known for his works “Christmas in August,” “One Fine Spring Day,” and “The Last Princess.” It features Korean actress Han Ji Min and K-pop star and actor Park Hyungsik as the main characters.

“Two Lights: Relúmĭno” was inspired by the fact that about 86 percent of visually impaired people worldwide have low vision, and that they may experience unnecessary inconveniences as a result.

The film follows Sooyoung and Insoo, two young people who meet at a photography club for the visually impaired, as they learn to take their own photos – and grow closer to each other while doing so.

It also highlights Relúmĭno, a visual aid application developed by a team at C-Lab, Samsung’s in-house incubator program. The app works in conjunction with the Gear VR to enhance the vision of visually impaired people, and thus helps to alleviate some of the everyday challenges they might face.

Watch “Two Lights: Relúmĭno” below.

From the latest in VR/AR, IoT, healthcare and more, Samsung selected the seven new startups for investment based on their business potential and contribution to innovation:

• Hyperity – A VR/AR solution to remotely control smartphones and desktops through virtual screens without a physical monitor

• Linkface – A unique VR solution that can detect eye and facial muscle movement and let users directly control VR content

• PIXELRO – A smartphone-based solution to provide a vision correction solution to presbyopia, replacing regular eyeglasses

• BlueFeel – A personal portable air purifier that doesn’t block the user’s mouth, developed as a response to users who dislike the discomfort of regular dust masks

• Defind – A smart shoe matching service that carries out a 3D scan of a customer’s foot to enable them to buy shoes that fit perfectly

• Soft Launch – A social media-based recommendation service for restaurants and stores aiming to combat fake reviews, and developed by employees from multiple Samsung affiliates

• 1Drop – An ultra low-cost blood glucose measurement solution using LED and the camera of a smartphone

A Collaborative Approach

The prospective entrepreneurs were provided with intensive training and preparation on key aspects of running a business with the help of experts before launching their startups. They also engaged in various talk sessions with former colleagues with success spinning off businesses to obtain know-how.

“We have provided the support to establish 32 C-Lab alumni startups over the past two years and based on our valuable past experience, we are planning to build up a more profound and actionable program to nurture employees’ ideas and launch new startups,” said Jaiil Lee, Vice President and Head of the Creativity & Innovation Center at Samsung Electronics.

C-Lab alumni startups have performed well in recent years, securing additional global funding, increasing company valuation and opening up unexpected business opportunities. For example, 360-degree camera manufacturer Link Flow started as a business for travellers in their 30’s and 40’s, but after being spotted by the security maintenance industry, underwent further iterations and will be unveiled as an official product at this upcoming CES 2018.

Created in December 2012, the C-Lab is an in-house startup incubation program that nurtures a creative organizational culture and innovative ideas among Samsung employees. The spin-off policy was introduced in 2015 and since its inception C-Lab alumni startups have been striving to open a new startup ecosystem.

It’s for this reason that Samsung continues to devote considerable effort to initiatives that promote road safety. The technologies outlined below were designed to raise awareness of the dangers of distracted driving, and offer intuitive means for drivers and cyclists to manage their mobile devices while keeping their eyes on the road.

‘Eyes on the Road’: Promoting Road Safety Through VR

June is Singapore Road Safety Month, and to help encourage proper road safety habits, Samsung Electronics Singapore, the initiative’s official technology partner, developed immersive VR content that illustrates the critical importance of staying focused when behind the wheel.

The Eyes on the Road VR experience presents an array of potentially hazardous situations that commuters may place themselves in when distracted by mobile devices. In one such scenario, for example, users take the point of view of a driver who, distracted by his mobile phone, nearly gets into an accident at a pedestrian crossing.

The realistic scenarios are brought to life with Samsung’s Gear VR, and encourage users to be more careful when on the road by allowing them to experience the dangers of such distractions firsthand.

Eyes on the Road is currently available to download for free in the Oculus Store.

In-Traffic Reply: Auto-Responses for When You’re on the Road

Developed as part of an effort to curb road accidents in the Netherlands, Samsung’s In-Traffic Reply app allows commuters to send automated responses to calls and messages while keeping their hands firmly on the wheel.

The app activates as soon as it detects that the user is driving or riding their bike, and allows users to automatically send a standard reply (“I’m driving, so I cannot answer at the moment”), a fun, animated response, or their own personal message whenever they’re on the road.

In-Traffic Reply is currently available to download via the Google Play Store.

Ahead: A Smart Helmet Accessory

It’s always smart to wear a helmet when commuting. Especially a helmet that’s not only capable of keeping you safe, but keeps you connected to your smartphone, too.

A product of C-Lab, Samsung’s in-house startup incubation program, Ahead is a small, triangular device that snaps instantly onto any helmet. When paired with a smartphone, Ahead allows users to seamlessly make and take calls, listen to music, track their fitness data and interact with their phone’s voice assistant, all while keeping their ears open and hands free.

In addition, the device’s lightweight design and water resistance make it ideal for navigating bustling city streets. Those interested in purchasing Ahead may do so via the device’s Kickstarter page.

Samsung’s technologies reflect an ongoing commitment to innovating in the field of transportation. By making it easier for drivers to stay focused and connected when on the road, Samsung is adding new convenience to the driving experience and making streets safer.

FaceSense is a product of C-Lab (Creative Lab), Samsung’s startup business program that nurtures its employees’ innovative ideas to develop the technologies of tomorrow. The project presents a new approach to VR navigation that works just as its name implies: by tracking movement in the user’s face.

Whenever we speak, change our expression or shift our gaze, our faces generate electric signals. FaceSense recognizes and translates these biometric signals into input for navigation, allowing users to maneuver through VR worlds with intuitive movements and simple voice commands, rather than reaching for out-of-sight physical controls.

The prototype showcased at the exhibition was designed for Samsung’s Gear VR headset, and may one day lead to the development of further biometric technologies that allow more individuals, including those with various usage impediments, to enjoy immersive VR experiences.

The Samsung employees behind FaceSense showcased the C-Lab project at VRLA Expo 2017, the world’s largest virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) exhibition, held from April 14-15 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

The team based their prototype’s design on Samsung’s Gear VR headset.

FaceSense works by recognizing and translating biometric signals in the user’s face, allowing them to navigate immersive VR worlds hands-free.

The technology registers movement in the user’s eyes and facial muscles, and is also capable of recognizing certain words.

The prototype is currently capable of recognizing voice commands such as ‘home’, ‘back’, ‘select’ and ‘cancel’.

FaceSense’s intuitive controls open the door for more users to experience immersive VR.

Today, no one day is alike. I can be diagramming a new idea, not tasked by anyone, in the morning, vigorously debating its feasibility with senior engineers alongside fresh-out-of university staff a few hours later, and then tinkering with the idea in the lab by the end of the day.

I credit this change to C-Lab.

Seung-ryong Jeon, Creative Leader of C-Lab, C-Lab participant in 2016 and creator of the T.O.B project

When you think startup, the first images that likely pop to mind are makeshift groups of fresh, enthusiastic innovators, entrepreneurs, and engineers dreaming of creative ideas, and pouring their passions to bring their ideas to life.

While scenes like this may be expected in the Silicon Valley’s or New York’s of the world, they might seem too difficult to imagine, much the less instil, at large and complex, multi-layered corporations with extensive webs of stakeholders. Or might such implementation require a spirit of adventure to be sure, and willingness to view failures as opportunities, but be a radical vision for how an organization can keep brewing innovation for the future? At Samsung, a unique startup culture has taken root in both spirit and implementation thanks to a progressive new structural and innovation-breeding initiative known as C-Lab.

A Season of Deep Introspection

In Samsung’s growth into a technology leader, the company has, throughout its history, always taken time to introspect. Growing into one of the leading technology companies is a course filled with obstacles, requiring the ability to read into a complex mix of innovation, consumer, and societal trends. At Samsung, these seasons of introspection, have long been marked by concerted efforts to take a step back and appraise the bigger picture, and then move decisively.

In the late 2000s, it was clear that the world around Samsung, and even the company itself, had changed dramatically over the space of the previous decade. While the company was continuing to grow with its brand recognized as a leader around the world and its products constantly at the top of their lists, Samsung and its leadership realized a season of deep introspection was needed to understand the changes, and then cast course for the years ahead.

The company also realized that it had tended to concentrate its efforts in one direction – whether that was smartphones or TVs, for example. However, industry trends had subtly shifted in a new direction with the ability to be flexible, and diversify based on wider trends the real key to success and survival.

In the tech industry, new leaders are emerging every few years. This often comes at the expense of legacy manufacturers who struggle to remain relevant. It was through its period of introspection that Samsung identified the need for disruptive innovation. In its conception of disruptive innovation, Samsung leaders also took keen notice of a business model which was gaining popularity in innovation hubs like Silicon Valley:

“When we took time to study innovation in Silicon Valley, including visits there, we, of course, were wowed by the innovative products and skilled and accomplished talent seeming to flood out of what really is a small community. But sifting through the wow factor, and searching to the core of what was driving innovation there, we had to look beyond the resumes, shared office setups, and even ecosystem of innovation mixed with entrepreneurship – as important as all these are. In so doing, we understood the core of why Silicon Valley was on the cutting-edge. There, the companies’ own employees were set up as catalysts to drive innovation. And then, we thought, why not at Samsung?”

Jaiil Lee, Vice President, Samsung Creativity & Innovation Center

Weaving together these insights, the Samsung C-Lab was born in 2012.

Disruptive Innovation

At core, Samsung’s C-Lab is an innovation program that helps employees to nurture their own creative business ideas. It encourages employees to create their own ideas and receive the resources and time to develop them. Its vision is to effect disruptive innovation at Samsung, instilling a spirit of adventure and startup culture throughout the company. The C-Lab isn’t a sideline. It’s not meant as an extracurricular program. It’s a strategic driver intended to shift the future paradigm of how Samsung operates for the years to come.

The birth of the C-Lab didn’t just signal the arrival of a new program. It also ushered in a new way of working that wasn’t seen at Samsung before.

[Hybrid Innovation]

The existing structure had strong leadership and uniform culture. But by incorporating the traits of a smaller startup, the effect was getting the best of both worlds. A challenger spirit and fast implementation was encouraged, with the result, a hybrid innovation structure.

There was also the addition of a holacracy whereby there’s no hierarchy. Instead, a leader distributes power across project members in a simple organizational structure. Those who are proposing the ideas also have the power to staff their own teams. In fact, they can even recruit from outside of Samsung if they can’t find the right resources in-house. Workers operate in a flexible work environment. Failure is honorable if the employees are able to learn from them.

“A lot of people tend to think that a great idea will lead to a successful project. However, for a project to succeed, you not only need a great idea, but also the craftsmanship and execution to continuously develop the idea. Everybody has an idea. The idea will pass by if you don’t take action and get it evaluated, analyzed and transformed. C-Lab provides an ideal, and wholly unique, environment to transform ideas into real-life innovations.”

Hyunchul Choi, CEO, Innomdle Lab, C-Lab participant in 2014 and creator of the TipTalk project

Showcasing Innovation

The entire C-Lab procedure works like this. It begins with the idea discovery phase. This includes idea suggestions that Samsung welcomes throughout the year. Employees are also invited to a pitching day to explain the concepts they would like to develop.

The concept stage is next, which includes team building and mentoring. Then comes prototyping, followed by concept validation. Here, the employees showcase their products at global events. If successful, the final stage is the exit stage. At this point, the businesses can remain under the Samsung umbrella or they can become separate spin-off companies.

[C-lab Procedure]

Because of the way C-Lab is structured, nearly any idea, irrespective of whether the idea fits into a current Samsung business or product scope is fair game as long as the team working on the idea can prove its merits. This sort of structuring has led to a ‘creative diversity’ of C-Lab ideas across unique categories, many never previously explored by Samsung.

[C-Lab Categories]

Success Stories, Backed by Numbers

In the five years that C-Lab has been in operation, an exciting stream of successful projects have emerged. For example, there’s eyeCan – the eye-controlled mouse for those with disabilities. There’s also the hat that can detect signs of stroke, the sensor that can detect smells, and TipTalk – the wrist strap that enables users to make phone calls by putting their fingertips to their ears. Other ideas include RINK – the mobile VR controller, the smart belt WELT, and Mr. VR – the VR enhancing headphones.

[C-Lab Achievements in Numbers]

Of the 127 completed projects, 45% have been transferred to a Samsung business department. Another 35% of projects were completed and wound up. The final portion of projects are the 20% that have become spin-off companies. In 2015, C-Lab introduced its spin-off policy whereby the most promising projects are launched as fully-fledged external startups. So far, 25 projects have taken this exit route, with ambitious targets for the future.

[Exit Status of C-Lab Projects]

Startup Spirit Reverberating Throughout Samsung

So after five years of operation, has the whole C-Lab project been worthwhile? The startup spirit reverberating throughout Samsung speaks for itself, enabling employees to be more than just employees. They’re creatives, idea generators, adventurers. Applications to participate in the annual C-Lab contest have increased year-upon-year, with around 2000 employees applying in 2016. Additionally, attendance by Samsung employees at the internal C-Lab Fair where teams showcase their works reached 6,800 last year.

There’s no doubt that C-Lab projects are making a major impact globally, but perhaps even more special, has been  employees carrying their passion back to their own business units. Knowing they can do extraordinary things with their own projects, this new sense of excitement from employees is tangible on how they can contribute to their day-to-day tasks. That is a big benefit for Samsung at large and the future of its products.

“When I participated in the C-Lab program in 2015, I remember colleagues from my department would pepper me with questions about what I was working on and how quickly my project seemed to be moving along. I know that my teammates as well as other participants in the C-Lab program were receiving the same inquiries and attention. It wasn’t just during the program either, but even after I returned to my unit, I’ve been able to adapt the quick on your feet thinking and implementation-focused approach of C-Lab into my current work as well as among my team members.”

Yongjin Cho, Senior Engineer, Wearable H/W R&D Group, C-Lab participant in 2015 and creator of the Rink project

Thanks to C-Lab, a new spirit of adventure and creativity is now reverberating throughout Samsung with optimism brimming about what’s more to come. Projects have gone from humble beginnings to standout independent successes, participants are spreading the spirit of C-Lab back to their business units, and more and more Samsung employees are seeking to participate for themselves. As C-Lab and Samsung head into the future, it will be exciting to see what unfolds from this new spirit of adventure in what’s next to come.

Created in December 2012, C-Lab is a startup business program that nurtures a creative organizational culture and innovative ideas among Samsung employees. Since its inception, 25 C-Lab projects have turned their ideas into businesses.

“There are already 25 C-Lab alumni startups which have hired about 100 employees after independence from Samsung Electronics,” said Jaiil Lee, Vice President and Head of the Creativity & Innovation Center at Samsung Electronics. “These figures demonstrate how C-Lab startups are growing at a brisk pace and nurturing a new startup ecosystem within Samsung.”

The five C-Lab projects that were selected this year are applying innovative thinking and cutting-edge technology to products for beauty, kids and other daily uses. The five products honored this year include:

• Bebefit – Baby carriers that protect infants in an easy and smart way

• chikapong – Kids’ Toothbrushes that help kids develop healthy dental habits

• TagPlus – Internet-connected devices for kids that connect to toys

• S-Skin – Home skin care solutions that help analyze and care for skin at the same time

• Lumini – Portable Devices that recommend cosmetics based on skin analysis

The five teams introduced their products at ABC Kids Expo 2016 as well as CES 2017 drawing the attention of industry insiders. As the five teams become independent from Samsung Electronics, they are incorporating feedback from consumers and industry experts to improve their products.

C-Lab alumni startups have experienced tremendous success and growth in recent years. SketchOn Inc. was globally recognized as a startup with enormous potential after it was ranked fourth – the highest a Korean startup has ever achieved – at Slush 2016, the largest startup conference in Europe. In addition, Salted Venture Inc., Innomdle Lab and WELT Inc. far exceeded their targeted funding goals on the global crowdfunding platform, Kickstarter and plan to introduce their products to the market very soon.

Created in December 2012, C-Lab is an internal venture incubation program that encourages a creative corporate culture and nurtures innovative ideas from Samsung employees. The program supports the development of inventing ideas from all areas of the business.

The products on display will include a smart aid for visually impaired people, monitorless PC viewing glasses, a VR home furnishing solution and a 360-degree travel experience platform.

Relúmĭno

Relúmĭno is a visual aid application that works incorporated with Gear VR for near blind and visually impaired people which enable them to read books and watch TV with new levels of clarity. It works as a mobile app that when inserted into the Samsung Gear VR can enhance visuals and text so that they can be enjoyed in better quality. The technology even has the ability to remap blind spots by displacing images and uses an Amlser grid chart to correct distorted images caused by metamorphopsia. Relúmĭno enables visually challenged people to watch TV without using the expensive visual aids currently available in the market.

Monitorless

Monitorless is a remote-control VR/AR solution that enables consumers to use devices such as smartphones and PCs without a monitor. The solution consists of a special pair of glasses that resemble regular sunglasses. They are used to view content from other devices such as smartphones and PCs and can be used for both Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality functionality thanks to the electro chromic glass featured on the glasses. Monitorless addresses the fact that there isn’t enough AR and VR content currently available and also enables users to play high-capacity PC games on a mobile device.

VuildUs

VuildUs is a home interior and furnishing solution enables users to see what a new furniture purchase would look like and whether it would fit in the room before they buy it. It consists of a 360-degree depth camera and a mobile app for VR compatible devices. First, users connect both devices and scan their home using the camera. That data is used to build a VR version of the user’s home which the user can then enter when wearing a VR headset. They can view items of furniture in 3D, and buy it on the spot if they like how it looks in the room. The solution removes the need for measuring space before buying furniture because it enables them to see whether it would fit in real time.

traVRer

traVRer is a 360-degree video platform that enables users to experience realistic virtual travel before and after a real-life trip. Those using the platform are able to visit landmarks and famous places around the world but with the mood, noises and events captured. Users can switch seamlessly between different videos to go in different directions or see the place at a specific time of day – all without the need to navigate menus for alternative video options.

“We continue to support new ideas and creativity, especially when these traits could lead to new experiences for consumers,” said Lee Jae Il, Vice President of Samsung Electronics Creativity & Innovation Center. “These latest examples of C-Lab projects are a reminder that we have some talented entrepreneurial people who are unafraid to break new ground. We’re looking forward to further exploring novel applications for VR and 360-degree video because there are endless possibilities in this area.”

The C-Lab projects will be exhibited at Samsung Electronics’ booth (4YFN G1 in the Fira Barcelona).

Samsung created the C-Lab in recognition of the creative, innovative and entrepreneurial talents of its own staff. It’s a program that enables workers to launch novel technologies that could go on to become a standalone success. Although these products are currently still in development, they already show a huge amount of promise.

Tag+

First up is Tag+, the product that will change the way that children interact with their toys. It’s a button-type device that connects to toys and a smartphone app through Bluetooth. Once paired, kids can click, long-press, shake or bump the smart tag to enable various responses from their toys. A click can access extra digital content for a toy, while a long-press could enable kids to share pictures of their latest Lego build, for example.

The developers created Tag+ to extend the life of toys everywhere by marrying digital and physical worlds. At CES, they are showing a live demo of the product and speaking with potential partners.

S-Skin

S-Skin is one of two skincare products on show from the C-Lab this year. S-Skin saves on the time and cost associated with professional dermatological care. It consists of a microneedle patch and a portable device that analyses and cares for the skin.

The patch can penetrate the skin to deliver effective ingredients and enhance absorption. The device can measure the hydration, redness, and melanin of the skin to provide customized skincare using LED light. The accompanying app saves details of the skin’s condition, making it possible to track changes over time. CES is a key opportunity for the creators of S-Skin to share their expertise.

Lumini

Another new product on display at CES is Lumini. Lumini is a portable device that spots skin problems before they happen.

It works by taking a picture of the face. The device analyses the information from the picture with its own algorithm and then sends the data to a smartphone app. The product identifies issues under the surface of the skin, like pimples, freckles, and redness. Lumini also recommends cosmetic products based on the analysis and provides a remote consulting service with a dermatologist or a skincare specialist.

Flying the Nest

As well as showcasing the three new C-Lab innovations, other C-Lab businesses that have spun off are also having a presence at CES. Among them are MANGOSLAB’s Nemonic, a compact printer that prints memos from smart devices to sticky notes; Jameasy, a solution that helps users practice an acoustic musical instrument through a sensor module attached to the instrument; MOPIC, a smartphone cover that helps view 3D content without glasses; analogue plus, a hands-free device for helmet users; and WELT, a fashionable belt for healthcare.

MANGOSLAB’s Nemonic is a compact printer that prints memos from smart devices on sticky notes.

Jameasy helps users practice an acoustic musical instrument through a sensor module attached to the instrument.

Through the use of a simple device that attaches to a phone much in the same way as a protective case, MOPIC enables 3D viewing on the go. No glasses necessary.

The C-Lab initiative is a valuable opportunity for great minds to think freely and create something ingenious. CES is another chance for the businesses themselves to interact with the market. It will also enable them to gain priceless insights that will help shape their products.

Samsung Electronics announced that following the success of last year’s showcase, it will display three more Creative Lab (C-Lab) projects during CES 2017, at Eureka Park.

Created in December 2012, C-Lab is a startup business program that encourages a creative corporate culture and nurtures innovative ideas from Samsung employees. The program supports the development of ideas from all areas of the business.

Projects that will be unveiled at CES 2017 are Tag+, an electronic device that adds extra functionality to kids’ toys; S-Skin, a home skincare and analysis solution; and Lumini, a portable device that checks the inner skin to identify and prevent skin problems.

Tag+

Tag+ is a button-type device that kids can easily use. The device is a digital companion that connects to toys and a smartphone app through Bluetooth LE and introduces intuitive interactions. Depending on whether kids click, long-press, shake or bump the smart tag, the companion application responds accordingly, opening new doors for kids to have fun. With Tag+, kids can have multiple experiences with a toy without losing interest.

S-Skin

S-Skin is a consumer skincare solution that saves time and cost associated with professional dermatological care. It is comprised of a microneedle patch and a portable device that analyses and cares for the skin. The microneedle patch can deeply penetrate the skin to deliver effective ingredients and enhance absorption. The device can measure the hydration, redness, and melanin of the skin to provide customized skincare using LED light. The condition of the skin is saved in the accompanying app to track changes over time.

Lumini

Lumini is a portable device that spots skin problems before they happen. After taking a picture of the face with Lumini, the device analyses the information with its own algorithm and sends the information to a smartphone app. The device identifies issues under the surface of the skin, like pimples, freckles, increased pores, wrinkles, redness, and sebum. Lumini also recommends cosmetic products based on the analysis and provides a remote consulting service with a dermatologist or a skincare specialist.

Since earlier this year, Samsung has been showcasing C-Lab ideas from various areas at major exhibitions. Employees’ ideas are displayed at the exhibitions and the business value of each project is examined based on the public’s reaction, which helps improve the project.

Five additional C-Lab projects that have successfully spun off will be exhibited at CES 2017: MANGOSLAB, a compact printer that prints memos from smart devices to Post-it note paper; Jameasy, a solution that helps users practice an acoustic musical instrument through a sensor module attached to the instrument; MOPIC, a smartphone cover that helps view 3D content without glasses; Analogue Plus, a hands-free device for headgear; and WELT, a fashionable belt for healthcare. They are seeking global business opportunities through CES 2017.

Meanwhile, performance of C-Lab projects that have successfully spun off has attracted attention from the global market. MANGOSLAB’s smart printer Nemonic was awarded CES 2017 Best of Innovation Awards under the Computer Accessories category. Also, WELT has launched a smart belt in collaboration with Samsung C&T’s fashion division and other projects are awaiting official launch during the first half of 2017.

“Ideas from diverse areas from fashion and kids to beauty are being developed based on innovative technology and we will continue to seek for additional ideas across a broad spectrum,” said Jaiil Lee, Vice President of Creativity & Innovation Center at Samsung Electronics.

After a series of successful project demonstrations, Samsung just unveiled six new spinoff projects.  And while Hum on!, Waffle, ItsyWatch, Ahead, LiCON and FITT360 each have unique functionalities, spanning the likes of mobile apps and social networking services to wearables, they have one important thing in common. These innovative products each promise to enrich consumer’s lives and contribute to social prosperity.

Here’s a sneak peek at each new product.

Hum On! Is a mobile app designed to help people make their own music simply by humming. By converting a user’s humming into musical notation, Hum on! allows individuals – even those with no musical background – to write music on any instrument.

Waffle is a social networking service that enables users to draw and leave doodles on another user’s wall. Users can then add stories or other visual content to make more fascinating and complex social artwork.

ItsyWatch is a wearable device for children to help them build good habits. The device, which gives kids an opportunity to care for their own virtual pets, is also designed to relieve parental stress and strengthen the emotional bond among family members.

Ahead is a communication device for helmet users, such as bikers, skiers and individuals who ride motorcycles. The device gives users a hands-free option that can replace mobile phones or walkie-talkies. The device also allows users to listen to music and receive voice notifications.

LiCON uses a smartphone camera to recognize and control Internet of Things devices. To use LiCON, consumers simply launch the LiCON app and take a photo of any smart device – from toys to bottles and appliances. The app is then launched instantly.

FITT360 is a wearable 360 degree camcorder that enables users to capture all surrounding scenes. In comparison to existing 360-degree cameras, which are large and inconvenient, FITT360 is hands-free and easy to use, allowing an individual to become fully immersed in VR content.

Since being founded in 2012, Samsung’s C-Lab has fostered creative thinking throughout the company and supported more than 150 projects. The latest six are just some of the exciting technologies and products ahead for Samsung Electronics.

As a simple instance, carrying your baby, picking him or her up again and again is strenuous work. A baby carrier is a necessity. A necessity yes, but not without it’s faults. For one, the shoulder straps and waist belt put needless pressure on your body. And second, just looks bad when you have to wear it outside.

Samsung’s C-Lab, an internal program that aims to foster innovation at the company have set their eyes on solving these two issues of early parenthood. The result is an infant support carrier that monitors baby’s health and is comfy for both parent and baby. Ladies and gentlemen and babies… meet Dr. Macaron.

Weight Distribution

While we can’t reduce the baby’s weight we can distribute the load away from just the certain part of your body. Dr. Macaron has a Convertible Hipseat System that can be adjusted with one hand. Raising the seat of the carrier divides the weight away from the shoulders to be shared with the waist so that mommy can concentrate on the precious cargo inside.

Iconic Design

Dr. Macaron is a minimal no-nonsense design baby support system. We discarded anything that stuck out or didn’t feel in place and hid buckles and other contraptions away from view. Unlike most baby carriers, we chose a light ivory color instead of the often seen usual dark drab for a clean pure feel that will go well with any outfit.

Total Infant Care Service

Dr. Macaron isn’t only a baby carrier. In fact, it is a smart care service for your baby with a very well designed carry support. Simply by putting the small macaron shaped sensor into the seat of the carrier Dr. Macaron monitors if the baby needs a diaper change. Also, the sensor will check your activities and let you know how long you’ve been on your feet and need a breather. With the app it’s easy to keep a day to day record of your cute lil button growing up without having to keep a pencil and notebook handy at all times, keep it all on your smart device!

Sensor Detail

The small macaron shaped sensor in the seat of the carrier sends data to the pre-installed app in realtime. This data is processed and presented to you so that you can keep track of the leaps and bounds your baby is making day to day.

Dr. Macaron tackles a major problem shared by many in carrying their babies without wearing themselves out. Like a real macaron, a sweet outer shell with an even sweeter filling inside. A delicacy to sweeten your time with your baby.

Questioning things we took for granted and trying to improve upon them. That is the underlying approach for Dr. Macaron. It ends with a warm hug utilizing design and technology. Here at the C-Lab in Samsung Electronics we’re looking for unique and different solutions to life’s many questions with the answer of making it better.

*This product is under development and not yet available for sale.

Experience the excitement of Samsung’s IFA 2016 booth for yourself by checking out the videos below.

Great things can happen when we challenge the status quo. This is the kind of thinking Samsung encourages among its employees and has resulted in a range of pioneering technologies—many of which are on display at the Samsung Rethink Lounge at IFA 2016.

But what’s interesting about these specific technologies is that they aren’t actually Samsung products but rather projects of Samsung’s C-Lab, an internal program that aims to foster innovation at the company.

The five C-Lab projects selected to be showcased at IFA are each unique, but all have one thing in common—they all set out to rethink the way something is done. Whether it’s making a phone call, printing or viewing 3D imagery, they each take a fresh approach to completing everyday tasks, shattering expectations of how people approach technology in the process.

MOPIC

Viewing 3D video with 3D glasses has always been the norm. The problem with this, however, is that glasses are cumbersome and uncomfortable.

MOPIC takes a different approach. Through the use of a simple device that attaches to a phone much in the same way as a protective case, it enables 3D viewing on the go. No glasses necessary.

Prinker

We’ve been printing on paper for years. And, recent technological developments have allowed us to 3D print tangible items. But what makes Prinker so different is its ability to print on human skin.

Users can select a design they wish to print from the Prinker Online Art Gallery app, or they can create their own using a Galaxy Note5 or Galaxy Note7 smartphone. The wireless mobile printer then transfers the design to the skin through direct contact using safe, non-toxic ink. The ink is water resistant and can last on the skin for up to two days, and can easily be removed with soap and water.

Prinker isn’t just rethinking printing; it’s also changing self-expression as we know it.

Entrim4D

Entrim4D has a brand new take on virtual reality (VR). Their idea is to build on the current premise of VR, while injecting an additional layer of reality into the experience.

The device utilizes a conventional VR headset like Gear VR, along with a pair of headphones. These headphones work by using a combination of algorithms and Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation that send electric signals to a nerve in the ear. In short, the device tricks the part of the ear that regulates balance and motion. And, when that effect is synchronized with the action in a VR video, users feel it in a more realistic way.

Sgnl

We all make phone calls; some of us make dozens of them every day.

But Sgnl is a smart strap that enables you to conveniently answer phone calls through your fingertip. All you need to do is simply place your fingertip to your ear while speaking through the embedded microphone. As a result, your phone can stay secure in your pocket or bag, out of sight from the rest of the world.

Sgnl is now live as a Kickstarter project.

WELT

The WELT is a belt like no other. It measures your waistline and sends alerts when you overeat. It tracks the steps you take and the amount of time you’ve remained inactive, and provides actionable insights based on these measurements.

In addition, it offers a range of fashionable designs for both men and women, catering to a variety of tastes. It not only gives a new personal touch to wearables, but also has the ability to combat the global issue of obesity in a way never imagined before.

WELT, too, is also now a Kickstarter project.

These C-Lab projects are the kinds of ideas that shake up industries by offering something different. They take concepts we’re already familiar with and bring them to the next level.  Time will only tell what’s next for C-Lab, but as creativity and curiosity continues to be encouraged at Samsung, it’s sure to be something progressive.

Into this mix, a team with the Samsung C-Lab (short for Creative Lab) was recently inspired to develop a first-of-its-kind product, the IOFIT smart golf shoe, which utilizing pressure sensor technology embedded in the shoes, provides real-time analysis and feedback on a player’s golf swing through a mobile app.

For its part, there was an article featured Samsung C-Lab last month on Samsung Newsroom, a program designed to support Samsung employees in nurturing their own business ideas towards the ultimate goal of becoming fully fledged businesses. During their participation in C-Lab, Samsung workers can take six months to a year away from their usual day jobs to devote themselves 100% to working on their ideas.

A Mission to Change the Way People Play Sports

Envisioning to change the way people play sports, the IOFIT team, following a period of formation and incubation through C-Lab, launched the world’s first smart shoe product to help golfers quickly and smartly improve their games.

The IOFIT smart golf shoe features a high-quality, comfortable shoe product, which incorporating thin pressure sensors embedded in the outsole, measures a player’s balance and weight shifts in real-time. This data is then transferred via Bluetooth to the user’s smartphone where analysis and feedback is provided through an app on how the player can improve his or her swing. The IOFIT pressure sensor technology is itself particularly cutting-edge, designed to accurately detect any subtle changes in pressure distribution in a matter of milliseconds. The sensors are also waterproof and carefully built to withstand excessive amounts of weight, of up to 330 lbs (150 kg).

Once the data is fed from the shoe to the user’s smartphone, the IOFIT app offers key functions including complete analysis of a player’s swing from pressure distribution to center of pressure (CoP) to left/right and front/back balance in real-time. Another function of the app then interprets this data to provide coaching and personalized feedback to the user. To round out the features, the app also includes an option for players to compete with their friends on who has the better golf swing as well as share their individual swing information.

IOFIT Kickstarter Campaign

Passionate about the unique offering of its product, the IOFIT team provided samples of its smart shoes for various media outlets to trial. The feedback that came back was nothing short of terrific with outlets from CNET to Gizmodo to Fortune to many others praising the effectiveness and fun factor of the shoes.

As the IOFIT project entered its culmination phase and to begin delivering the shoes to people worldwide, the IOFIT team launched a crowdfunding campaign via the well-known Kickstarter platform. A common funding approach for today’s start-ups, crowdfunding involves the raising of funding for a new venture via monetary contributions from a larger number of people, and is typically conducted through internet platforms.

IOFIT’s Kickstarter page, which was launched on August 2, successfully reached its goal of raising USD 30,000 in just 10 hours. As of the date of this post, the funding stands at just over USD 50,000.

The IOFIT team sees golf shoes as just the start and envisions to expand their line of smart shoes into other sports and, even different fields, like healthcare.

Upcoming Innovations from Samsung C-Lab

With C-Lab’s pivotal role supporting successful projects like the IOFIT smart shoe, it’s clear why there’s so much excitement around the program here at Samsung. In the near future, C-Lab has many other exciting projects that we will share more about on Samsung Newsroom.

For instance, one project we’re particularly excited about is SGNL, a smart watch strap that activates a range of functionality to any watch—and also provides a point-of-contact technique for listening on phone calls just by touching your finger to your ear. As the sound can only be heard by the person wearing the device, it is perfect for noise-sensitive environments like conference rooms or an elevator to make calls privately without the risk of being overheard. SGNL has shown so much potential that the group was launched as a new, independent company in 2015.

Another innovation is the smart wearable healthcare belt WELT, which was first showcased at CES 2016. WELT is capable of the recording user’s overall health by measuring the waist size, overeating habits, the number of steps taken and time spent sitting down. It then sends data to a specially designed app for the production of personalized healthcare and weight management plans. Also, its elegant design makes it looks just like a regular leather belt.

As Samsung C-Lab rolls forward, you can expect details on many more exciting innovations like these that Samsung employees are busy at work dreaming about and creating. Please stay tuned!

Imagine being able to create your own business with the help of your existing employer. Even better, imagine being given the resources and time off from your daily duties to help your venture become a success. It might seem like an unlikely idea, but it’s one that’s taking place right now under our roof here at Samsung.

Samsung has a legacy of building market-leading products. Chances are that you probably have a piece of Samsung technology in your home or workplace. However, a company can never rest on its laurels and that is no less true for Samsung than any other firm that wants to innovate into the future. And with the link between creativity and productivity so clear, Samsung created a program that clearly shows that ethos. As well as continuing its traditional business units, the company is also helping our workers to think outside the box and the results are already evident.

The Samsung C-Lab (short for Creative Lab) was set up to enable Samsung employees to nurture their own business ideas and give them the tools, the time and the support to become fully fledged businesses. The program encourages progressive thinking by giving workers the go-ahead to develop ideas, even if those ideas don’t necessarily fit within a currently existing area of our business. The only pre-requisite is that the idea is genuinely innovative and can demonstrate itself as such by gaining the approval of other colleagues. The end result is a new product or service that could be developed further by Samsung, or stand on its own two feet as a business in its own right.

The great thing about the C-Lab is that Samsung enables workers taking part in this program to dedicate themselves to their projects 100%. They can take between six months to a year away from their usual day jobs and spend it working on their ideas. They’re given free rein to experiment, which means unbridled creativity. It’s a positive move that helps Samsung’s people to unlock their potential by doing something they’ve never done before.

The C-Lab is a win-win situation. The workers are empowered to explore and create in ways that differ to how they are usually able. And for Samsung, the C-Lab keeps us at the forefront of innovation by taking a different approach.

Changing Business

The C-Lab was created in 2012, based on the experiences that Samsung’s management had in Silicon Valley. They had seen how the entire business environment was changing. The startup scene there in particular was booming, with large numbers of companies receiving investment on the back of original ideas and growing aggressively. It wasn’t the traditional types of businesses we were used to seeing thrive on such a scale. These startups were fleet of foot and able to move very quickly without being hampered by legacy thinking and bureaucracy. They were agile enough to move and change rapidly.

Technology in particular was in 2012, and still is, a huge growth area for startups. Internet and software companies, for example, accounted for two thirds of VC investments in 2014. It’s a clear indication of the type of firms that were emerging a few years ago. Similarly, when looking at angel investments, internet companies accounted for almost half. It was obvious then that the appetite for entrepreneurship was there, especially in tech.  It called for Samsung to listen to the market and respond accordingly in order to bring about a ‘challenger spirit’ within its ranks.

A Break from Tradition

Operating as a startup is easy when you only have a few members of staff on your books. Samsung is now finding that it is possible to introduce some of the elements that typify a startup within its own business. But it does involve some radical adjustments to make it work.

One of the aspects that we introduced with the C-Lab is holacracy, or a flatter way of organizing and managing teams.

“In a similar way to many of the startups of Silicon Valley, the C-Lab’s structure isn’t governed by hierarchical systems. Instead, each team has a leader and project members. That’s it. It works because the absence of a set-in-stone structure enables everyone to get their hands dirty, and contribute and work collaboratively to help the project meet its goals. They’re no longer tied to uniform tasks, they receive performance-based rewards and are encouraged to set challenging goals that help them to excel.” said Stan Kim, a director of C-Lab at Creativity & Innovation Center.

Perhaps the most notable tenet of the C-Lab approach is that failure isn’t a bad thing. It’s part of the exploration process that helps the most innovative of companies to hit the eureka moment. If workers aren’t afraid of failure, they can experiment and possibly create new things that they wouldn’t otherwise have the breathing space to do.

What’s more, C-Lab teams get to work flexibly, meaning they can work when and where they want. It’s a reimagining of how teams work and collaborate.

Samsung feels that the benefits of this type of structure can be far reaching. By calling on the strong leadership and culture of the existing organization, along with the challenger spirit of small, innovative organizations, we’re able to benefit from hybrid innovation. It’s a model that enables the business to have the best of both worlds.

Ideas Search

Discussing ideas is a breeze as well. Any Samsung employee can suggest and evaluate ideas through the company-wide collective intelligence platform ‘MOSAIC’ or via email. Ideas can be submitted either individually or as a team.

After the submissions of ideas, they are screened based on how specific, innovative, and marketable they are. Next, the ideas are developed using the “Lean approach” to ensure they are as efficient as possible. The ideas then proceed to the voting stage, where Samsung employees get their voices heard. Voters choose their favorite ideas that will continue to the next round, and after a final review by a group of experts, it’s time for the final presentation. Here, a selected audience plays the role of venture capitalists and after each presentation, they decide whether they would invest in the idea.

Around 15-20 ideas are selected each year using this process and they are the ones that become official C-Lab projects.

The Next Step

The selected C-Lab members start developing their ideas that they hope will become full-scale businesses. As team leaders, they can select colleagues who they want to work with through Talent Audition, a unique job posting program. As a team, they pursue a shared goal and decide on the best ways to reach it. And because C-Lab is an open project, employees are allowed to recruit members from outside Samsung if they can’t find the right people inside the organization.

In the end, many find that the hard work pays off. When C-Lab projects are completed, those that are closely related to a division’s business (such as TVs or home appliances), are transferred to each division for further development to launch on the market. Other projects, which are not transferred to divisions, are supported to launch an independent company as a fully-fledged startup. Not bad for something that started out as a grassroots idea on the Samsung shop floor.

C-Lab has been an incredible incentive for employees. At Samsung, innovative thinking is recognized with an opportunity to take the idea to market. Samsung invests money as seed capital to help employees launch their business. In addition, the company offers counsel by way of technology and management expertise during the early stages of their business to ensure stable growth. Despite all this, the startups maintain their independence.

The Measure of Success

The main objective of the C-Lab since it was established is to drive and encourage employees. Employees are empowered to kick-start creative ideas and get hands-on with technology development that may lead to a new business opportunity. Given that objective, the results have been encouraging. The number of projects submitted to internal idea contests has increased for the past three years. Meanwhile, sharing ideas has become a natural part of internal culture as employees realize that the more they share new ideas, the better chance they have of developing and creating new business opportunities.

The ideas that have blossomed are a real testament to the success of the C-Labs. Some 46% of projects are transferred to various Samsung business divisions, and 18% are spun off to become businesses in their own right. But it’s the people behind the businesses who are the real stars. Through the program, they are able to be bolder in their thought processes and dream big. They unlock their full potential and are given the right amount of support and autonomy to be successful through the use of their own ideas. That’s a priceless opportunity.

The Future

Samsung is planning to increase the opportunities for employees to participate in C-Lab projects. New locations are already in the works, including a physical space to increase synergies between projects and personnel, the Seoul R&D Center for software and spinoffs, a tech shop and a new exhibition hall in Suwon, plus an additional R&D base at Seoul National University.

There has been firm believes within the company what the C-Lab can achieve and so we’re opening up the program in a way that will continue to provide more chances to get employees involved. The more people get involved, the more they are able to engage their own workforce to go the extra mile in how they approach their work. Samsung encourages staff to become personally invested in innovation, which, as a concept, is very powerful.

WELT

Samsung Electronics’ Creative Lab (C-Lab) launched five projects as independent companies. The C-Lab was first introduced to cultivate a creative company culture and produce promising startup companies.

On May 31, the 18 employees of the five C-Lab companies resigned from Samsung Electronics to officially establish the five companies and engage in full-scale business.

In August 2015, Samsung Electronics introduced a startup company establishing system (C-Lab spin-off system) for the first time in the industry. The company selected nine outstanding C-Lab projects to support as startup companies. This year, five projects were chosen and established as companies.

The five projects to become independent startups include: “WELT”, a smart belt that manages obesity and overeating; “Idea Printer”, a printer that simply prints ideas onto sticky notes; “Locksa”, a smartphone application that manages photographs with your smartphone unlock function; “Save Energy Cost”, an intelligent software that recommends optimal electricity pricing systems; and “Samsung Insulation”, a vacuous insulator with the highest insulation efficiency in the world.

Idea Printer

Through internal technical evaluations and external venture capital evaluations, Samsung Electronics selected the five projects were not only creative, but also showed the highest potential for commercial success.

After being established as independent startup companies today, the companies will complete product development and engage in marketing activities, aiming for market release in the second half of the year.

Samsung Electronics’ C-Lab is an internal venture incubation program that was first introduced in 2012 to cultivate a creative company culture, and discover and actualize the innovative ideas of employees. When an idea is chosen as a C-Lab project, employees can take up to a year away from their primary job to autonomously execute the project—from team formation to budget usage and schedule management.

The person who proposes the idea becomes the team leader, regardless of rank or position. The team will focus on commercialization of the idea in a flexible and parallel environment undeterred by working hours and places.

Through the promotion of startup companies, Samsung Electronics expects to stimulate a spirit of entrepreneurship in all employees.

Furthermore, the startup team members will receive consultancy support based on Samsung Electronics’ capabilities, network and other business expertise.

Meanwhile, the nine companies that became spin-offs in 2015 are showing progress despite the competitive startup environment.

Swallaby and Bluehack developed mobile applications and recently launched official services through Google Play. Innomdle Lab developed a new wearable-based UX concept. In April, the company attracted a promising foreign venture investor for the first time as a spinoff company.

“This year is the fourth year since C-Lab was initiated,” said Lee Jae Il, Director of DMC R&D Center, Samsung Electronics. “To date, we have had 130 projects with 480 employees participating. Among those, 40 projects have been transferred to a business division to be developed as commercial products. Recently at global conventions such as CES and MWC, we have released outstanding C-Lab projects as a proactive effort to increase ties with actual business.”

Additionally, Samsung Electronics dedicated a C-Lab only space in the central park of Samsung Electronics Digital City in Suwon to invigorate C-Lab projects.

Depending on the character of each project, C-Lab projects will be relocated and run in two spaces, either the central park C-Lab space or Seoul R&D campus in Umyeondong.