The Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KGCCI) held the 11th KGCCI Innovation Awards ceremony on November 20 at the Ambassador Seoul Pullman Hotel. DolbomDream received first prize, Terracle received second prize, and Tround received third prize.
Officially supported by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, the awards recognize companies that create meaningful value in Korea through innovative ideas and management strategies. A panel of Korean and German judges evaluated the finalists according to five criteria: level of innovation, market validation, impact on company performance, social benefit, and diversity and inclusion.
Five finalists delivered on-site pitches, and the winners were selected through live electronic voting.
DolbomDream developed Carely, described as the world's first non-invasive pneumatic ballistocardiography system. Air-pressure sensors embedded in cushions and garments detect subtle chest movements and analyze heart-rate and breathing patterns. An artificial-intelligence algorithm predicts early signs of conditions including arrhythmia, sleep apnea, and heart failure. The company has demonstrated accuracy through clinical validation with university hospitals and research institutions.
Jihoon Kim, CEO of DolbomDream, said, "We will continue developing Carely through non-invasive intelligent monitoring technology so that every senior can live safely and independently."
Terracle presented Terra-X™, a chemical-recycling process that depolymerizes waste PET under low-temperature, atmospheric-pressure conditions and converts it into TPA and EG. The process handles contaminants such as dyes and adhesives without separate pretreatment and achieves product purity above 99.9%. It also reduces unit carbon emissions by more than approximately 50% compared with petroleum-derived TPA.
Hyunmin Lee, Project Manager at Terracle, said, "We will continue advancing technology innovation and business expansion to contribute to building a sustainable plastics circularity system."
Tround developed the SoundXR Chair, which delivers home-theater-grade spatial audio in the form of a personal chair. A curved speaker frame positioned approximately 30 centimeters around the user enables reflection-free audio across five or more channels. The chair analyzes sound data from films and games and converts it into vibrations in the backrest and seat, combining auditory and tactile sensations. An accredited testing and certification center verified a 16.78% improvement in immersion.
Jaebeom Park, CEO of Tround, said, "Through the SoundXR Chair, we are creating a new product category called the sound chair."
Marie Antonia von Schönburg, President and CEO of KGCCI, said, "Innovation is a key driver of progress in both our economy and society. This year's finalists demonstrated the possibilities that emerge when creativity and collaboration meet."
