From left) Gadgetouch’s reporters Ayano Tominaga and Hiromi Yuzuki, and SMT CEO Donguook (Andrew) Lee
The ‘2024 Pangyo Global Media MeetUp,’ targeting the Japanese and Vietnamese markets, occurred on December 10 at the Gyeonggi Startup Campus. Organized by Pangyo Techno Valley TV, a promotional channel of Pangyo Techno Valley, the event featured Japan’s tech media Gadgetouch and Vietnam’s state-run media Vietnam Plus, highlighting innovative technologies and achievements of Pangyo-based companies.
SMT (CEO Donguook (Andrew) Lee) and Brain Ventures held in-person interviews with Japanese media, while Homenay and GoQba Technology participated in online interviews with Vietnamese press.
During the interview with Japan’s Gadgetouch, SMT showcased its innovative technology for measuring, analyzing, and predicting water and energy usage. Established in 2018, SMT develops real-time water quality measurement devices and AI solutions based on IoT and ICT technologies, ensuring a clean water environment.
SMT’s flagship product line, the Water-N smart shower solution series, combines energy harvesting and AI-powered water purification technology. The series was inspired by the CEO’s struggle with a skin condition during the COVID-19 pandemic. The company has expanded its reach from the global parenting market with Water-N 1 to the smart home and commercial sectors with Water-N 2 and Water-N 3.
Image by SMT
SMT’s Water-N products have earned numerous international accolades, including the 2023 CES Innovation Award in the ‘Smart Home’ category and the Gold Award at the Edison Awards. In 2024, the company won a Bronze Award at the Edison Awards for its Water-N 3 smart water purifier.
SMT is actively pursuing entry into the U.S. market by collaborating with major U.S. retailers and bathroom product companies. It also explores partnerships with key buyers in Japan and the Middle East. Recently, SMT began securing a KRW 2.5 billion investment from Japan’s largest VC firm, Global Brain and is preparing an annual 50,000-unit purchase agreement with NorthStar Consulting Group in the U.S.
Showcasing South Korea’s water technology on the global stage, SMT strengthened its network by speaking at the KIT Forum in Kyrgyzstan at the invitation of the Kyrgyz government. It also participated as a Cleantech speaker at the U.S. SelectUSA for two consecutive years, gaining international recognition for its innovative technology.
The ‘2024 Pangyo Global Media MeetUp’ featuring SMT and Japan’s tech media Gadgetouch took place successfully
The ‘2024 Pangyo Global Media MeetUp’ concluded successfully, earning praise for providing a platform for Pangyo’s innovative companies to strengthen their presence in the global market.
Pangyo Techno Valley is a global integrated R&D hub focused on IT, BT, CT, and NT, integrating Research (R), People (P), Information (I), and Trade (T). As Gyeonggi-do’s representative innovation cluster, Pangyo Techno Valley was established to secure national new growth drivers such as technological innovation, human resource development, job creation, and enhancing international business competitiveness. As of 2023, 1,666 companies employ 78,751 people, and it has positioned itself as the most innovative hub in South Korea, with sales amounting to 167.7 trillion KRW (125.5 billion USD).
Furthermore, the Techno Valley Innovation Division of the Gyeonggi-do Business & Science Accelerator (GBSA) holds monthly events such as the Pangyo Evening Meet-Up, Pan-Pan Day, and the Pangyo Startup Investment Exchange “In-Best Pangyo” to maximize the value of Pangyo Techno Valley. They also support the Pangyo Overseas Promotion Program, which publicizes information about Pangyo’s companies, products, and services to domestic and foreign investors and the media, thereby facilitating foreign investment.
