NAVER has published a comprehensive 'Digital Ecosystem Report' that covers the digital ecosystem as a whole. The purpose of the report is to assess the current status and value of NAVER's various digital ecosystems and seek new directions for progress based on this information. In addition to the growth of small and medium-sized businesses, local businesses, and creators, it also emphasizes the growth of the technological ecosystem. In fact, NAVER invests 24.3% of its sales in R&D expenses, which is considered one of the highest levels of investment even among tech companies. Also, NAVER is making substantial contributions to the development of the domestic technological ecosystem, such as the development of tools for the growth of the ecosystem participants.
This report includes a summary of the contributions NAVER LABS has made to the development of the technological ecosystem. Since May 2021, NAVER LABS has opened the 'NAVER LABS Open Dataset' page, which collects and discloses a variety of original, high-precision datasets created by the company, such as indoor and outdoor digital twin data and localization datasets. The program aims to promote further growth with researchers. The page contains HD maps and indoor and outdoor localization datasets that can be used for various studies related to autonomous vehicles, mobile robots, AR/XR, etc. We are providing support so that academia, research institutes, and startups interested in the field can apply for datasets and use them for individual research and technology development purposes. As of June 1st, 2022, there have been 1,123 applications for HD map datasets and 5,396 downloads of indoor localization datasets.
In addition, NAVER LABS has consistently shared its own research findings with the academia and research institutes. Starting with the free disclosure of the patent for AIRCART that applies muscle power enhancement technology in 2017, we jointly developed a course with KAIST in 2018. In 2019, we became the first domestic company to freely distribute HD maps for autonomous driving. In 2020, we held research challenges to improve localization technology, continuing on the path we have taken in sharing technology.
You can view the full contents of this report through the link below. Read about various attempts and mid/long-term achievements that NAVER has made to develop the digital ecosystem.
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