Cheonan Science and Industry Promotion Agency

What Cheonan Science and Industry Promotion Agency does

Cheonan Science and Industry Promotion Agency (CISTEP, 천안과학산업진흥원) is a nonprofit foundation (재단법인) established by Cheonan City Government to promote science, technology, and industrial development in Cheonan-si, South Chungcheong Province, South Korea. Headquartered at Jiksan-ro 110 in the Cheonan SB Plaza, CISTEP operates five functional departments — 기업성장부 (Corporate Growth Division), 기업지원부 (Corporate Support Division), 창업보육부 (Startup Support Division), 전략기획부 (Strategic Planning Division), and AI특화사업부 (AI Specialization Division) — plus the affiliated Cheonan City Carbon Neutrality Support Center. The organization administers a portfolio of 10+ government-funded support programs targeting Cheonan-based SMEs, manufacturers, and startups, including technology commercialization vouchers (up to 20M KRW per company), 3-core industry R&D grants (up to 40M KRW per project), AI/strategic industry realization technology development (up to 100M KRW per project), global startup discovery, and investment ecosystem programs.

CISTEP's core technology assets are the E-Science Platform (www.escience.or.kr), which serves as the online application and resource booking portal for hundreds of support programs across municipal, provincial, and central government levels, and the Digital Convergence K-ESG Innovation Standardization Forum (forum.cistep.re.kr), co-operated with TTA under Ministry of Science and ICT mandate, which has produced 7 forum standards and 4 adopted TTA group standards in areas such as AI-based photovoltaic monitoring, RE100 certification data, and landfill gas monitoring. Additional affiliated services include the Cheonan SB Plaza incubation facility and the K-ESG carbon neutrality and renewable energy information portals.

The business model is public-sector pass-through: CISTEP is funded primarily by municipal budgets from Cheonan City and South Chungcheong Province, supplemented by central government ministry project grants and consortium co-funding. Services are provided at no direct cost to qualifying enterprises, with some programs requiring matching contributions. The organization does not sell commercial products; it functions as a centralized hub that aggregates, administers, and disburses government support programs to local industry stakeholders across Cheonan's 8 strategic industries (automotive, bio, medical devices, advanced materials, secondary batteries, semiconductors, displays, smart machinery).

Name

Cheonan Science and Industry Promotion Agency

Legal name

천안과학산업진흥원

Website

https://cistep.re.kr

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

CISTEP is a Cheonan City-founded nonprofit foundation that aggregates municipal, provincial, and central government enterprise support programs and delivers R&D grants, technology commercialization, AI transformation, startup incubation, and ICT standardization services to Cheonan-based SMEs, manufacturers, and startups.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Cheonan

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Funding / Public Budget: As a quasi-governmental organization (지방공기업), CISTEP operates primarily on public funding from Cheonan City and South Chungcheong Province, supplemented by central government ministry project budgets. Revenue is derived from government-allocated operational budgets and project grants rather than commercial sales.
2. Support Program Management Fees: The agency administers various support programs for local enterprises and collects no direct fees from beneficiaries, functioning as a pass-through entity for government subsidies.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Cheonan Science and Industry Promotion Agency (CISTEP) is a nonprofit foundation established by Cheonan City Government that administers government-funded R&D grants, technology commercialization vouchers, AI transformation programs, startup incubation, investment ecosystem development, and ESG/renewable energy ICT standardization initiatives for Cheonan-based enterprises. It also operates the E-Science online platform, the Cheonan SB Plaza shared facility, and the Cheonan City Carbon Neutrality Support Center.

Product overview

Cheonan Science and Industry Promotion Agency (CISTEP) operates as a regional science and technology promotion organization under Cheonan City, offering a portfolio of programs and services rather than a single product. The core platform is the E-Science Platform (www.escience.or.kr), an online portal for business applications, expert registration, and facility booking. The agency administers specialized support programs including AI and strategic industry technology development, global startup cultivation, investment ecosystem building, and smart city initiatives. A key initiative is the Digital Convergence K-ESG Innovation Standardization Forum (operated jointly with TTA), which develops ICT standards in areas such as AI-based renewable energy monitoring and carbon neutrality. Additional services include the Cheonan SB Plaza (shared infrastructure/facility rental), the Carbon Neutrality Support Center, and the Renewable Energy portal. The agency also runs AI transformation (AX) demonstration programs for local industrial complexes and organizes trade events such as participation in Smart City Expo World Congress 2026.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• E-Science Platform (이사이언스 플랫폼) Web-based platform enabling Cheonan-based enterprises to discover and apply for support programs, reserve shared research equipment, access expert databases, and manage company information. Requires corporate member registration and business authentication.
• Cheonan SB Plaza (천안SB플라자) Shared facility operated by CISTEP providing rentable meeting rooms, co-working space, and on-site support services for startups, SMEs, and event organizers in Cheonan.
• Cheonan AI & Strategic Industry Realization Technology Development Support Program (천안 AI·전략산업 실현기술개발 지원사업) Government-funded R&D program supporting consortiums of universities, research institutes, and companies in Cheonan's 8 strategic industries (automotive, bio, medical devices, advanced materials, secondary batteries, semiconductors, displays, smart machinery) with up to 100 million KRW per project.
• Technology Commercialization Voucher Program (기술사업화 바우처 지원사업) Voucher program providing up to 20 million KRW per Cheonan-based SME for technology commercialization activities including technology improvement, pilot production, testing and analysis, certification, and marketing support.
• Chungnam Cheonan AX Demonstration Program (충남 천안 AX 실증기업 모집) AI transformation demonstration program for Cheonan industrial complex companies in display upstream/downstream sectors, providing 70 million KRW per company to deploy AI for manufacturing process optimization, predictive maintenance, quality control, industrial safety, and energy efficiency.
• Cheonan Strategic Industry Cluster Operation Program (천안 전략산업 클러스터 운영사업) Cluster operation program focused on Cheonan's future healthcare industry (regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, digital healthcare, precision medicine), supporting commercialization demonstration for innovative companies through testing, usability evaluation, and consulting services.
• Cheonan Investment Ecosystem (AC·VC) Cultivation Program (천안 투자 생태계(AC·VC) 조성사업) Investment incentive program offering professional VC and AC investors an investment incentive equivalent to 10% of cumulative investment (up to 20 million KRW) for investments of at least 100 million KRW in Cheonan-based startups in 2026.
• Cheonan Global Startup Discovery & Cultivation Support Program (천안 글로벌 스타트업 발굴·육성 지원사업) Program supporting the discovery and cultivation of global startups in Cheonan, with 320 million KRW (including VAT) budget for 2026 commissioned operations providing startup development services.
• Digital Convergence K-ESG Innovation Standardization Forum (디지털 융합 K-ESG 혁신 표준화 포럼) Standardization forum jointly operated with TTA (Korea Telecommunications Technology Association), established under the Ministry of Science and ICT, developing ICT standards for ESG management, renewable energy (AI-based PV monitoring, RE100 certification), and digital convergence, with standards adopted by TTA.
• Cheonan City Carbon Neutrality Support Center (천안시 탄소중립지원센터) Support center operated by CISTEP for Cheonan City providing research, program operation, education, and public relations related to carbon neutrality initiatives.
• Cheonan Renewable Energy Information Portal (천안 신재생에너지) Information portal providing Cheonan City residents and businesses with information on renewable energy initiatives, projects, and resources.

Quantifiable outcome

• 7 forum standards developed and 4 TTA group standards adopted (2025)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• 한국정보통신기술협회 / TTA (Korea Telecommunications Technology Association)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025CISTEP and TTA jointly operate the 'Digital Convergence K-ESG Innovation Standardization Forum.' TTA provides institutional backing and standards certification authority, while CISTEP leads the operational management and industry engagement. The forum has developed 7 forum standards, adopted 4 TTA group standards, and produced 2 additional TTA group standards in 2025.
• 한국과학기술정보연구원 / KISTI (Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKISTI participates as a development partner in the Digital Convergence K-ESG Innovation Standardization Forum, contributing expertise in AI solar monitoring systems, RE100 certification standards, and mobility assembly process energy efficiency standards.
• 한국광기술원 / KITECH (Korea Institute of Energy Technology)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKITECH is a co-development partner in the forum, specifically contributing to RE100 certification data standards and renewable energy data standardization for the K-ESG ecosystem.
• 한국동서발전 / Korea East-West PowermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKorea East-West Power co-hosted the '2025 Renewable Energy Infrastructure Expansion Conference' with CISTEP and KITECH in October 2025 in Busan, serving as a major industry partner in the renewable energy ecosystem.
• 충청남도 / South Chungcheong ProvincecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouth Chungcheong Province provides co-funding for enterprise support programs administered by CISTEP, including technology vouchers and R&D grants. The province also channels its own support programs through the CISTEP E-Science platform.
• 천안시 / Cheonan CitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCheonan City is the founding and primary supervisory authority of CISTEP. The city funds CISTEP's core operations and co-sponsors major initiatives including the Smart City Development Project, Carbon Neutrality Support Center, and the Digital Convergence K-ESG Innovation Standardization Forum. CISTEP operates these programs on behalf of the municipal government.
• 주식회사 제이케이코어 / JK Core Co., Ltd.majorTechnology or IntegrationJK Core Co., Ltd. is a development partner in the forum, contributing to AI solar monitoring system standards and landfill gas monitoring system standards development under the standardization forum.
• Synergy (에너지고 对象)majorTechnology or IntegrationSynergy is a development partner in the forum, contributing to energy storage system peak load reduction use cases, voltage conservation measurement standards, and landfill gas monitoring system data models.
• 한국산업단지공단 / KICOX (Korea Industrial Complex Corporation)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKICOX co-sponsors the 'Energy Self-Sufficiency Infrastructure Building Project' and is a listed cooperation partner on the Digital Convergence K-ESG Innovation Standardization Forum website, contributing to industrial complex development initiatives.
• 충남테크노파크 / South Chungcheong TechnoparkmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouth Chungcheong Technopark co-publishes provincial enterprise support programs through the CISTEP platform and serves as a channel for distributing South Chungcheong Province's technology development initiatives to Cheonan enterprises.
• 한국중소벤처기업진흥공단 / KOSME (Korea SMEs and Startups Agency)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a cooperation partner on the forum website; KOSME channels national SME support programs to Cheonan enterprises through CISTEP's coordination infrastructure.
• 한국에너지기술평가원 / KETEP (Korea Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning Institute)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a cooperation partner on the forum website; KETEP provides energy technology evaluation expertise and channels national energy R&D programs to Cheonan enterprises via CISTEP.
• 한국연구재단 / NRF (National Research Foundation of Korea)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a cooperation partner on the forum website; NRF channels national research funding programs and collaborates on policy proposals developed through the standardization forum.
• 한국산업기술평가관리원 / KITEF (Korea Institute for Industrial Technology Evaluation and Planning)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a cooperation partner on the forum website; KITEF contributes to technology evaluation standards and channels national industrial technology programs.
• 한국산업기술협회 / KITA (Korea International Trade Association)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as a cooperation partner on the forum website; KITA supports international market expansion for Cheonan companies through trade facilitation and global networking.
• 한국산업기술진흥원 / KITC (Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a cooperation partner on the forum website; KITC contributes to technology development and commercialization programs for Cheonan enterprises.
• 한국철도산업기술원 / KRTC (Korea Railway Technology Research Institute)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a cooperation partner on the forum website.
• 한국환경산업기술원 / KEITI (Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a cooperation partner on the forum website; contributes to ESG and environmental technology programs.
• 한국정보원 / KISA (Korea Internet & Security Agency)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a cooperation partner on the forum website.
• 충남경제진흥원 / South Chungcheong Province Economic Revitalization AgencymajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCo-publishes provincial enterprise support programs through the CISTEP E-Science platform, serving as a distribution channel for South Chungcheong Province's economic development initiatives.
• 충남창조경제혁신센터 / South Chungcheong Center for Creative Economy & InnovationmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCo-publishes enterprise support programs through the CISTEP platform; channels creative economy and startup support programs from the central government to Cheonan companies.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Korea Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning Institute (KETEP): National energy R&D planning agency and listed CISTEP cooperation partner. Direct overlap on renewable energy ICT, RE100, and AI solar monitoring standardization, but operates national-level energy R&D funding programs rather than regional implementation.
• Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA): National internet security and ICT agency listed as a CISTEP cooperation partner. Comparable in promoting ICT standardization and supporting tech SMEs, but at the national level and oriented around security rather than renewable energy ESG verticals.
• Korea SMEs and Startups Agency (KOSME): National SME and startup support agency — direct partner of CISTEP for channeling national programs to Cheonan enterprises. Operates the same SME-support service model (funding, consulting, market access) but at the national scale, making CISTEP a localized execution node within KOSME's broader mandate.
• Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT): National industrial technology development agency and listed CISTEP cooperation partner. Overlaps on technology development programs, commercialization support, and industrial technology evaluation but at the nationwide level rather than focused on a single municipality.
• Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute (KEITI): National ESG and environmental technology support agency, listed as a CISTEP cooperation partner. Comparable as a public sector operator of ESG and environmental technology programs, but at the national scale and without CISTEP's regional municipal mandate.

Regional players

• Gwangju Technopark: Regional technology promotion agency serving Gwangju Metropolitan City. Runs the same regional enterprise-support model as CISTEP for a different metropolitan region with a distinct industry mix (automobiles, optics, AI), making it a relevant regional peer benchmark.
• Daejeon Technopark: Regional technology promotion agency serving Daejeon Metropolitan City. Operates an analogous model (R&D support, expert networks, technology commercialization) in Korea's most R&D-dense city — a directly comparable regional peer with a different industrial mix (heavier on semiconductors and biotech).

Direct peers

• Korea Industrial Complex Corporation (KICOX): National industrial complex management agency and CISTEP cooperation partner. Manages industrial complexes (including Cheonan 2–4 complexes that CISTEP's AX program targets) and runs the Energy Self-Sufficiency Infrastructure Building project jointly with CISTEP. Comparable as a public-sector platform for industrial complex tenants.
• Korea Telecommunications Technology Association (TTA): National ICT standards body that jointly operates the Digital Convergence K-ESG Innovation Standardization Forum with CISTEP. Comparable in standardization development function for ICT/telecom; TTA provides the national certification authority while CISTEP leads operational delivery for the renewable energy / ESG vertical.
• South Chungcheong Technopark: Provincial-level technology promotion agency for South Chungcheong Province, listed as a CISTEP cooperation partner. Operates the same regional enterprise-support model (R&D, technology commercialization, expert networks) but at the province level rather than the Cheonan municipal level — making it the most directly comparable peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments1 record

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Frequently asked questions about Cheonan Science and Industry Promotion Agency