Press 2020 Herald Job Awards] Startup Grand Prize - Autonomous a2z Leading domestic autonomous driving technology, actively nurturing young talent
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작성자 Autonomous a2z 조회 1,985 작성일 2020-12-03본문
Autonomous a2z (hereafter a2z) is a venture start-up company that has developed the best autonomous driving technology in Korea within two years of its founding. All four founding members, including CEO Han Ji-hyeong, are veteran researchers from Hyundai Motor Company. They are former engineers who were in charge of developing autonomous vehicles in the field, and they boast of superior manpower compared to other venture start-ups.
The competitiveness of a2z is that it is possible to develop an autonomous driving solution that integrates the three-step process of recognizing, judging, and controlling the driving situation responsible for autonomous driving of automobiles.
Its technological prowess was recognized, such as being selected as a support company in the autonomous driving sensing field among the 'Big 3' of new industries promoted by the government and as a platform operator for 5G-based autonomous driving convergence technology. Various research and demonstration projects from the government and local governments, as well as requests for cooperation from large corporations are continuing. Even global companies have reached a level where they are seeking R&D cooperation.
It is a common belief in the venture industry that it is difficult for start-up companies focused on R&D to generate profits. Because of this, they are eager to invest outside, and in the end, it is difficult to operate the company normally due to excessive pressure on performance. Since its founding, a2z has accumulated more than 10 billion won in government projects alone based on its technological prowess. The results of this research and development are leading to sales through technology sales.
After completing the development of the 'Autonomous Driving Development Kit (AVDK)' to help develop algorithms, the lineup is planned to be released by 2021. It was launched and sold to domestic research institutes and schools. A contract for the supply of 300 small buses equipped with self-developed autonomous driving systems is under discussion by 2023.
As the company grew rapidly, so did employment. The company, which had only four employees at the time of its founding, has now grown to 40. With the exception of some managerial positions, all of them are engineer-level R&D personnel. In particular, 26 new people joined this year alone, when the company rapidly grew in size.
a2z is also active in nurturing young future talents in the field of autonomous driving technology. The 'a2z Crew' organization was established and operated as an internship centering on Kyungil University students and graduates, who have built partnerships since its founding. There are more than 20 technical manpower being fostered in this way. It is evaluated that it is contributing to the local economy by hiring a large number of manpower located in Daegu, where the headquarters is located.
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