InsightMatches, a Busan-based startup selected for this year’s K-Startup Grand Challenge (KSGC), announced the launch of a free pilot program for its AI-powered platform.
The program, opening on December 15, is designed to help Korean researchers and deep-tech startups navigate the complexities of applying to the European Union’s Horizon Europe, the world’s largest research and innovation fund.
This launch comes at a critical time. Following South Korea’s formal association with Horizon Europe in 2025, the nation’s researchers can now lead and participate in international projects with the same qualifications as EU member states. However, significant barriers remain, including complex proposal requirements and the difficulty of forming international consortiums. The Horizon Europe application process can take months to prepare and navigate.
InsightMatches aims to solve this problem. Its AI-driven platform streamlines the entire grant application process, from proposal writing to identifying and matching with qualified European research partners. The company projects its system can reduce the typical 20-week application cycle to approximately four weeks.
“Korea’s top minds now have unprecedented access to global funding, but they are often bogged down by bureaucracy,” said Paul Conversy, CEO of InsightMatches. “Our mission is to bridge that gap. We want researchers spending their valuable time on science, not paperwork.”
The free pilot is open to select organizations upon registration. Initial participants include leading researchers from Korean institutions such as KAIST, Yonsei University,Cheongju University and Changwon University. They will be collaborating with prominent European partners, including Riga University (Latvia), Burgas Free University (Bulgaria), the University of Amsterdam (Netherlands), and the Institut Pasteur (France), to develop high-impact research proposals.
As the only Busan-based startup in its KSGC cohort, InsightMatches is uniquely positioned to strengthen the Korea-EU R&D corridor. The company’s selection highlights Busan’s rising prominence as a dynamic and supportive environment for globally-minded tech startups. This strategic location enables InsightMatches to ensure that Korean innovation can compete effectively on the global stage.
