Neostech is a technology startup that develops (smart) lighting-based IoT (Internet of Things) platforms, founded in January 2018 by CEO Jeon Jin-oh. By combining and applying BLE Mesh (Bluetooth Low Energy mesh technology), Wi-Fi/wireless network technology, and real-time indoor location tracking (RTLS) technology, the company develops and supplies solutions that upgrade existing LED lighting systems into smart lighting infrastructure.

Neostech’s core technology is its lighting control system, which features low initial cost, simple installation, and easy scalability, enabling customized smart lighting environments ranging from underground parking guidance lights to office/building HVAC integration. CEO Jeon Jin-oh is pioneering the next-generation smart lighting market, starting with a licensing/subscription model for lighting manufacturers, thereby overcoming the traditional business constraints of the lighting market. The following is more on his story.


What kind of company is Neostech?

Neostech is a technology company specializing in the development and supply of wireless-based smart lighting control systems. It builds lighting control solutions that can be applied to existing buildings, public facilities, and industrial facilities without large-scale wiring work, and implements an integrated system that covers everything from lighting control hardware to operation/monitoring software. It holds technologies that meet policy demands at public and industrial sites, such as energy savings, carbon reduction, and improved facility operation efficiency.

The company was founded in 2018 with investment from ETRI (Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute). This was not a simple financial investment; it is significant in that a public research institute officially verified the technological completeness and business potential before investing. Based on this, the company was converted into a research institute spin-off in the Incheon Small and Medium-Sized Research and Development Special Zone and is building a growth structure centered on demonstration, commercialization, and public procurement linkage of public technologies.


The “lighting control” field seems unfamiliar to startups and not easy to target. Why did you choose it as your core business?

Lighting is installed as an essential element in all buildings and facilities, so its share in energy use and its potential for energy savings are very high. In particular, in the case of existing buildings, there are limitations to implementing smart systems using wired control methods, and Neostech judged that realistic energy savings and operational efficiency improvements would be possible through wireless lighting control technology.

What was the most difficult part in the early days of the startup, and how did you overcome it?

As an early-stage startup, the most difficult part was securing technological capability and reliability in public and industrial sites. To address this, Neostech numerically verified energy savings and system stability through actual on-site demonstrations and secured references by carrying out public and private demonstration projects step by step.

Internally, it was also a challenge to produce results while driving technology development, commercialization, HR management, and financial management all at the same time. The company clearly defined the areas of selection and concentration around its core technologies and overcame challenges through active collaboration with external partners.

What does Neostech’s vision of “innovation in lighting” mean?

The “smart lighting” and “innovative lighting” that Neostech pursues go beyond general remote control functions. It refers to an operational infrastructure that analyzes and reflects lighting usage patterns according to spatial conditions and automatically optimizes them. Neostech is transforming lighting from a mere component that illuminates surroundings into an energy facility and a data-driven operational tool. Lighting is the medium that can most reliably connect the locations and activities of on-site workers and facility users. The company can expand into construction/industrial safety management areas, such as lighting control based on worker location and recognition and alerts for hazardous zones.


The “ULOS system” is at the center of that innovation. What role does it play?

ULOS (Underground Location Service) is a smart lighting-based safety management and location information service developed by Neostech. By using smart lighting and sensors installed in each zone, it enables real-time monitoring of the locations of workers and personnel in underground spaces, mines, and large buildings, and allows rapid response in the event of a hazardous situation.

Currently, proof-of-concept (PoC) projects using smart lighting to monitor worker locations are under way at two mines in Korea. The system can also be applied to disaster response and safety assurance, as it enables the identification of firefighters’ locations even when visibility is severely limited during a fire.


What is Neostech’s unique competitive edge in the market?

The company’s clear strengths lie in its wireless mesh-based control technology, manufacturer-agnostic open architecture, and installation/operation know-how accumulated through numerous on-site demonstrations. Major domestic lighting manufacturers have applied Neostech’s solutions to actual projects, which has validated their technological stability and commercial viability.

In addition, Neostech has obtained certification for a wireless-based high-efficiency smart LED lighting control system. Through sensor integration, automatic control, and operational optimization, energy savings in real-use environments have been recognized as an official evaluation criterion.

The company’s customers are major domestic lighting manufacturers and providers, and a key differentiator is that they can expand their own product lineups without separate development stages by using Neostech’s smart lighting products, solutions, and services.

What are some key adoption cases, references, and major project outcomes?

Neostech is currently implementing the Cheongna Hana Financial Group headquarters project. By applying a wireless-based smart lighting control system to a large-scale financial operations facility, the company has secured energy savings, as well as stability and efficiency in building operations. In addition, through the Innovative Procurement Pilot Purchase Program, Neostech is promoting the application of its solutions to public facilities. It is proceeding in stages: after demonstrations in general commercial facilities, it is expanding into various industrial facilities and ultimately into public facilities.

The company is pursuing a structure in which collaboration with public institutions and large corporations based on demonstrations leads to procurement, market expansion, and joint business models. Based on demonstration results, Neostech has confirmed energy savings of about 20–30%, which also translates into reduced carbon emissions.


As an Incheon-based startup, you have received support benefits from Incheon Startup Park. What specifically did this entail?

Neostech participated for two consecutive years, 2024–2025, in Incheon Startup Park’s “Market Development Support Program for Demonstrated Products,” which laid the groundwork for entering the public market. Through this program, last year the company received expert consulting with the goal of being designated as an innovative product and reviewed its technological competitiveness and business structure. This year, to develop sales channels in the public market, it received support focused on linking with actual demand-side organizations and demonstration-based activities.

The market development/support program was particularly useful. Based on public procurement consultation events and similar opportunities, Neostech was able to meet directly with many public and related institutions and discuss in detail the application of its smart lighting solutions. It was a good opportunity to verify the completeness, public market suitability, and business feasibility of its solutions at the same time. As a result, Neostech’s solution was also designated as an innovative product by the Public Procurement Service. It is a highly beneficial program for startups like Neostech, for which entry into the public market is not easy.

How do you assess the growth outlook of the domestic and global smart lighting control market?

As policies on carbon neutrality, ESG, and energy savings are strengthened in Korea as well, Neostech expects the smart lighting control market to grow gradually in the medium to long term. While the lighting market itself has long been firmly established, the smart lighting control market is only now beginning to take shape. Lighting facilities and lighting control solutions are expected to evolve into core data infrastructure for building and city operations, going beyond simple equipment. Neostech’s main solutions and product lines are being commercialized in line with this trend, and the company is continuously upgrading them based on demonstration results.


What are your business goals and plans from 2026 onward?

From next year, based on the achievements of the Innovative Procurement Pilot Purchase Program, Neostech plans to promote expansion in public procurement and entry into overseas markets (particularly Japan). The company is in the process of securing seed investment from ETRI and intends to pursue additional funding focused on strategic investors (SI). Ultimately, Neostech aims to grow into a standard-technology company that solves energy and safety issues in the public sector and industrial sites.

Reporter: Lee Moon-kyu, IT Donga (munch@itdonga.com)

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