Hyundai Motor (005380.KS) and Kia (000270.KS) are holding an idea competition to mark the 30th anniversary of the completion of the Namyang R&D Center, the group's research and development hub.
The two automakers said on the 19th that they were holding the final round of the 2026 Idea Festival at the Namyang R&D Center in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, where employees propose creative ideas, build working prototypes and present them.
Now in its 17th year, the Idea Festival has been held annually since 2010 by the R&D Division and the Advanced Vehicle Platform (AVP) Division of Hyundai Motor and Kia. This year's event carries the theme "The Origin of Innovation," marking the 30th anniversary of the Namyang center with the idea that new concepts lead to future breakthroughs.
Six teams advanced to the final round. They are competing with the Tri-Fold Luggage Board, which improves trunk space utility; the Hero Recorder, which compiles a commercial vehicle driver's day into a one-minute video; I-Bridge, smart glasses that help visually impaired people walk safely; the Fin Print Seat, a car seat that changes shape to fit a child's body; Neulbom, an AI-based monitoring technology for infants and toddlers; and Motion Sickness Zero, which reduces passenger motion sickness using ambient lighting and rear-seat displays. Hyundai Motor and Kia provided production funding and workspace for building the prototypes, and each team spent four months developing its idea.
After each team's demonstration, five expert judges in each category and a panel of 100 employee judges determine the final rankings based on feasibility, originality, technical suitability and customer orientation. Winning teams receive prize money and opportunities to visit overseas trade shows and production sites.
Ideas from the Idea Festival have been actively applied to mass-production vehicles. The Multifunctional Console, which won the top excellence award in 2021, was commercialized as the Santa Fe's two-way multi console. Daisy, the 2023 grand prize winner that helps visually impaired people board buses, has entered field testing through a partnership with LG Uplus (032640.KS), evolving into technology that can contribute to society.
"The Idea Festival, which has continued for 16 years, has been the starting point that allowed Hyundai Motor and Kia to repeatedly innovate in mobility," said Lee Jae-kyu, executive vice president in charge of Vehicle Development 1 at Hyundai Motor and Kia. "We will continue to add innovation to our research and development culture so that we can lead the future mobility market."