SK Specialty (President Lee Kyu-won), an eco-friendly Specialty Gas & Chemical technology company, shared the interim results of the STAXX project, which is being pursued with the goal of revitalizing the local economy of Yeongju and creating a startup ecosystem, and explored ways to support the growth of social ventures.

SK Specialty announced on the 18th that it held the 'STAXX REPORT' to review the business performance of social ventures selected through STAXX and to explore ways to develop the projects.

STAXX was launched in December 2021 to create a youth startup ecosystem in the Yeongju region, which is facing a crisis of extinction due to population aging and decline, in order to solve social problems and revitalize the local economy.

SK Specialty, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Yeongju-si, and Impact Square have signed a business cooperation agreement to promote the project, and based on 5 billion won donated by SK Specialty, they are pursuing the discovery and nurturing of social ventures, the establishment of a startup ecosystem, the creation of a hub for exchange, and the operation of an investment fund.

SK is providing various support at the group level to help the eight social ventures discovered for the project achieve sustainable growth.

Haengbok Narae, a purchasing service company of SK Group and a leading social enterprise, is at the center of supporting entry into online markets such as 11st and SK Store and the expansion of product sales channels. In addition, management consulting utilizing experts (pro bono) within the SK Group is also planned to be provided to strengthen product competitiveness and brand value.

North Gyeongsang Province and Yeongju City are providing administrative support to help social ventures smoothly secure raw material supplies and facilities, while Impact Square, a company specializing in social venture incubation, is providing incubation services to help social ventures discover new business opportunities and refine their business models.

In addition, we have raised a fund of 5 billion won by combining a portion of SK Specialty's donations with external investment, and we plan to invest in social ventures to drive corporate growth and revitalize the local economy.

With support from corporations and local governments, social ventures have developed beverages and cosmetics using Yeongju agricultural products as ingredients, and are preparing accommodation and leisure programs utilizing remodeled vacant houses and idle land. Furthermore, they are creating a 'growth story' by establishing breweries in traditional markets to commercialize tourism products and pursuing the development of alcoholic beverages under the Yeongju brand.

In particular, SK Group’s support reflects Chairman Chey Tae-won’s management philosophy of revitalizing the social venture ecosystem to create social value and solve social problems. SK Group supports the establishment and growth of social enterprises and social ventures based on the belief that when social ventures gather in a specific region, interest in solving local social problems increases, naturally leading to their resolution.

The interim sharing session held at Gyeongbuk College's 148 Art Square proceeded in the order of open IR, opening ceremony, panel discussion, and talk concert.

Four local youth companies hoping to participate in the STAXX project attended the open IR, and the final candidates will be selected after a subsequent screening.

The opening ceremony was attended by SK Specialty President Lee Kyu-won, Gyeongsangbuk-do Administrative Vice Governor Kim Hak-hong, Yeongju Vice Mayor Song Ho-jun, Yeongju City Council Chairman Shim Jae-yeon, and SK SUPEX Council SV Promotion Team Leader (Vice President) Kim Kwang-jo.

Following this, key stakeholders responsible for the investment and support of the STAXX project gathered to hold a panel discussion on the theme of "Creating New Regional Value Through Cooperation." Participants included Koo Young-mo, CEO of Haengbok Narae, and Park Cheol-hoon, CEO of Region and Social Biz (Gyeongsangbuk-do's integrated support organization for social economy enterprises), who engaged in a lively discussion on cooperation strategies to create social value in the region and the conditions for the success of social ventures.

Finally, local social venture founders held a talk concert under the theme of "On-site Public Discussion for Creating a Better Local Community." The talk concert discussed ways to build a desirable future for the local community, divided into three themes: local places, daily life, and social values.

Kim Hak-hong, Vice Governor of Gyeongsangbuk-do, who attended the event, stated, “I would like to thank the officials of SK Specialty for taking the lead in social contribution by placing value on shared growth with the local community,” adding, “In addition to the achievements of job creation and revitalization of the local economy, new values and meanings will be widely spread through STAXX, and Gyeongsangbuk-do will spare no support to help young people realize their dreams and grow into successful entrepreneurs.”

Song Ho-jun, Vice Mayor of Yeongju, said, “This STAXX interim sharing session is the first fruit of mutual development where companies lead and local governments support,” adding, “We will provide unsparing support to create a youth startup environment in Yeongju where social ventures can grow rapidly.”

Lee Kyu-won, President of SK Specialty, stated, “I hope that this interim sharing session will serve as an opportunity for the names and products of social ventures containing local stories to become known nationwide, and for young people hoping to start businesses to gather in Yeongju,” adding, “We will continue to work together with North Gyeongsang Province and Yeongju City to ensure that STAXX becomes the best startup ecosystem program in the country.”

Meanwhile, from the 17th to the 19th, an exhibition showcasing diverse local lifestyles will be held at STAXX. Works that embody the local life envisioned by the younger generation in a spatial setting will be on display, and products made by social ventures can also be found.