What Chungbuk Creative Economy Innovation Center does

The Chungbuk Creative Economy Innovation Center (충북 창조경제혁신센터, CCEI) is a government-supported regional innovation hub serving entrepreneurs, youth founders, and small and medium enterprises in Chungbuk province, South Korea. It is one of 19 regional centers in a nationwide network supervised by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (중소벤처기업부) and operated by the Korean Institute of Startup and Entrepreneurship Development (창업진흥원, KISED). The center delivers a portfolio of startup support services including online and offline expert counseling, entrepreneurship education registration, business incubation program applications, co-working space reservation, facility and equipment rental, and investment matching via a dedicated CCEI Investment function.

Its core technology asset is the unified CCEI web platform at ccei.creativekorea.or.kr, which integrates Single Sign-On authentication through Naver and Kakao and provides self-service access to program applications, education registration, space and equipment booking, counseling scheduling, and a video content library across the 19-center network. The platform is built and maintained by third-party vendors including BVIDI Global (비비디글로벌(주), homepage development) and SolidNG (주식회사 solidNG, cloud infrastructure), and is linked to the broader K-Startup government portal (k-startup.go.kr) and startbiz.go.kr for cross-agency member authentication.

The center does not operate a commercial revenue model. Services are funded through government budgets allocated by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and delivered free of charge or at nominal subsidized rates to eligible entrepreneurs and SMEs. Its go-to-market is a hybrid public-service distribution model: awareness is driven through Naver, Kakao, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and a video content library, while service delivery combines a self-serve web portal with in-person consultations at regional physical centers. Customer segments are horizontal, spanning aspiring entrepreneurs and startup founders (primary), youth entrepreneurs (청년), and existing SMEs seeking workspace and advisory support.

Name

Chungbuk Creative Economy Innovation Center

Legal name

Chungbuk Creative Economy Innovation Center (충북 창조경제혁신센터)

Website

https://ccei.creativekorea.or.kr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Government-backed regional startup innovation center in Chungbuk, South Korea, operating as one of 19 centers under the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and KISED. It delivers free counseling, education, co-working space, equipment rental, and investment-matching services to entrepreneurs and SMEs via an integrated web platform with Naver and Kakao SSO.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup Incubation and Innovation Support Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (54)

SIC

Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Business Incubators & Accelerators (EDAMAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Venture Creation Centers (EDAHAHAH), Economic Development & Business Licensing (Local) (BPAIACAN), Small Business & Entrepreneurship Community Education (EDAAAFAK)

Keywords

• Startup incubation services
• Entrepreneurship education programs
• Government innovation centers
• Business counseling services
• Co-working space rental

Headquarters

HQ city

Cheongju

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Operated by 창업진흥원 (Korean Institute of Startup and Entrepreneurship Development) under supervision of 중소벤처기업부 (Ministry of SMEs and Startups), indicating government-funded operations rather than commercial revenue generation

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Chungbuk Creative Economy Innovation Center operates a government-supported startup support platform offering online and offline counseling, education programs, business incubation application services, co-working space reservations, facility/equipment rental, and investment matching. It is one of 19 regional centers in South Korea's national CCEI network, serving entrepreneurs and early-stage startups in the Chungbuk (North Chungcheong) region with services funded by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups through the Korean Institute of Startup and Entrepreneurship Development.

Product overview

The Creative Economy Innovation Center (CCEI) operates as a unified platform supporting startups and entrepreneurship across 19 regional centers throughout South Korea. The core platform provides integrated online services including program applications, education registration, business support services, consultation services (online and offline), facility and equipment rental, investment support through CCEI Investment, and access to co-working spaces. Additional offerings include a video content library (Video Hall) and promotional content (Promotion Hall). The system is operated by the Korean Institute of Startup and Entrepreneurship Development under the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, with services accessible through a single sign-on system.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Business Announcement (사업공고)

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and strategic.

• 중소벤처기업부 (Ministry of SMEs and Startups)coreOthersNational government ministry providing supervision and policy direction for the CCEI network. Acts as the overseeing body for all startup support initiatives and funding allocation across the 19 regional centers.
• 창업진흥원 (Korean Institute of Startup and Entrepreneurship Development)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperating organization responsible for managing day-to-day operations of CCEI centers. Provides platform infrastructure, service delivery systems, and program development across the startup support network.
• K-Startup PlatformstrategicChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorConnected government platform for startup support providing integrated access to CCEI services through K-Startup portal (k-startup.go.kr). Part of integrated authentication network including startbiz.go.kr.
• NaverstrategicGTM or Marketing PartnerPrimary social login provider and blog platform partner enabling member authentication and content distribution through Naver ecosystem.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Techstars: Global accelerator network operating programs across multiple verticals with mentor-driven support and investment. Directly comparable in accelerator/incubator service model to CCEI but operates with private capital, equity stakes, and global footprint.
• MassChallenge: Global non-profit accelerator offering equity-free programs, mentorship, and corporate connections. Highly comparable to CCEI in its mission-driven, non-equity model and broad entrepreneur support services, though operating internationally with corporate sponsorship.
• Y Combinator: World's largest startup accelerator, offering cohort-based programs, mentorship, and seed funding. Comparable as the global benchmark for the accelerator business model that CCEI centers emulate, but operates at much larger scale with international reach and equity-based monetization.
• Plug and Play Tech Center: Global innovation platform connecting startups with corporations, offering accelerator programs, co-working spaces, and corporate partnerships. Comparable in offering the full suite of incubation services (space, mentorship, corporate connections) that CCEI centers provide.
• 500 Global: Global venture capital firm and accelerator operating programs across emerging markets with seed investment and mentorship. Comparable as an accelerator offering structured programs, mentorship networks, and follow-on capital — features that CCEI Investment function aims to replicate at regional level.

Direct peers

• K-Startup (중소벤처기업부 K-Startup Platform): National government startup platform integrated with CCEI services. Operates under the same Ministry of SMEs and Startups and provides overlapping startup support functions including program applications, education, and investment matching.
• Seoul Creative Economy Innovation Center: A sister regional CCEI center under the same national network and Ministry supervision. Operates the same platform, service modules, and business model, but serves the Seoul metropolitan area — the most competitive startup ecosystem in Korea.
• Korean Institute of Startup and Entrepreneurship Development (KISED): The parent operating organization of all 19 CCEI centers, responsible for platform infrastructure, service delivery systems, and program development. Directly comparable as the central coordinator of the same startup support services offered by Chungbuk CCEI.
• TIPS (Tips for Innovating Program / 창업성장기술개발사업): Korean government program operated under the same Ministry of SMEs and Startups providing investment and R&D support for early-stage startups. Overlaps significantly with CCEI's startup support mandate and shares the same government funding source and policy framework.

Regional players

• Naver D2 Startup Factory (D2SF): Korea's leading corporate accelerator operated by Naver, providing funding, mentorship, and product support for early-stage startups. Comparable as a Korea-based accelerator with selective programs and investment components, but operates as a private corporate initiative rather than government entity.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/cceibusan
• Instagraminstagram.com/bccei
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cbccei

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments8 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Chungbuk Creative Economy Innovation Center