Team introduction

Circle foundation is looking for an idea to protect our family and neighbors from fine dust.
Can we be free from worries about fine dust in our homes, workplaces and public places? The following stories are about people who worry about fine dust.
If you have a brilliant idea to address these concerns, please share it with us. Any ideas that can make our world healthier without fine dust are welcome.

We are dreaming of a healthier world...
◦ Protecting me from fine dust – personal gear
When the fine dust level is high, I make my daughter wear a mask.
But she takes it off saying it is uncomfortable. I don't even know if she keeps it on.
Also, disposable masks are a waste and will harm the health of the earth.
Will there be any better idea to protect us from fine dust at a lower cost while reducing waste?
◦ Protecting our house from fine dust – enclosed space
Most of us spend about 15 hours a day at home.
I wish I didn’t have to worry about fine dust at home where my family spends a lot of time.
I close all the windows and turn on an air purifier to clean the air, but I don’t feel completely at ease.

Will there be a way to make our house worry free where we can breathe clean air for our young children and aging parents as well as for us to relax after a long day at work? ◦ Protecting workplaces from fine dust - large-scale enclosed space
You know a lot of fine dust exists in the kitchen and other working areas, but you can’t avoid it.
I run the fan and open the windows to get clean air, but the work has to go on.
The space is ventilated, but not enough, the fine dust keeps coming back.
I'd like to upgrade the facility, but as a small business owner, I can’t afford the costs.
Will there be a way to protect our coworkers in this competitive work environment?
◦ Protecting public spaces from fine dust - public open space
There are public areas crowded with people such as bus stops and busy streets.
We used to be able to sit down on a bench to rest our tired legs after a long walking on the streets.
We need an open space to take a break for a moment.
Will there be a way to create a rest space on the streets where we can stop and rest for a few minutes?

Circle foundation is looking for an idea to protect our family and neighbors from information breaches in this modern society of information and technology.
The value of information is getting higher. In this advanced information age, how can we protect our personal information as well as our collective data as a society?
If you have a brilliant idea to solve these problems, please share it with us. Any ideas that can make the Internet environment safer and more beneficial are welcome.

We are dreaming of making the Internet environment safer and more beneficial...
◦ Making the Internet a place with more reliable information
The millennium generation is the first generation to be linked into the Internet from day one.
However, a lot of information on the rapidly grown Internet are not trustworthy or even dangerous.
The Internet is full of harmful, confusing or fake information that can harm us in many ways.
In the sea of information that is getting wider and deeper, it is really difficult to figure out which information is reliable and which is not.
The Internet has become an integral part of everyday life. Will there be a way to make the Internet safer and more convenient without worrying about harmful information?
◦ Secured Internet environment free from hacking
Various services are provided on Internet platforms. We worry about whether our personal information is properly protected.
For individuals busy with daily lives or small companies with limited resources, information security is not a top priority, making them vulnerable to hacking.
With the advent of the Internet of Things (IoT) era, cyber threats can affect our physical safety as well as our information safety.
Will there be a way to create a safe and secure information environment where we have more control on our information and can protect all of us from personal information breaches?
◦ Using big data to help everyone
Consumer patterns, medical records, our feelings and opinions on the social media...
We are living in a world that we're leaving behind a digital trail in every move we take, and the economic activity and policy decisions are made based on the data.
Big data opens up a new vision that enables us to see our society from a broader perspective.
However, there are many unknowns lurking when we take an untrodden path.
While using information, your person information that you don’t want others to know may become public.
Big data can also be used to manipulate public opinions.
Will there be a way to prevent these problems and make a big positive impact to our society by making big data available to the government agencies and companies of all sizes?
◦ A reliable place for communication where anonymity is guaranteed
Anonymity on the Internet has created new social phenomena.
New apps like a blind app showed up allowing people to criticize about what they couldn’t before because of the fear of retaliation, and to fight against injustice.
However, it opens up another door, enabling people to hide behind a mask of anonymity and slander innocent people and hurt others with haste criticism.
Will there be a way to create a communication space where we can trust each other while enjoying the benefits of anonymity?

Circle foundation is looking for an idea to solve problems that we face in our lives with science and technology. Rapid economic growth enriched us materially, but it created many problems such as environmental issues, gap between rich and poor, aging society, and low birthrate.
If you have a brilliant idea to solve these social issues we may encounter directly or indirectly, please share it with us. The following stores are just part of those problems. Any ideas that uses science and technology to make our world healthier and happier are welcome.

We are dreaming of a healthier and happier world...
◦ A safe world for women
The MeToo movement is a hot topic nowadays.
Still, women are exposed to sexual harassment and violence. Wouldn’t it be great if we could make a device using science and technology for women to protect themselves? Or will there be a way to prevent women from being exposed to a vulnerable situation?
◦ Fine plastics
You see plastic waste alongside the beach. They became minute particles after traveling around the ocean.
Chemical ingredients of plastic or toxic chemicals absorbed to plastics have negative effect on our ecosystems and return to our dining tables.
Will there be a way to reduce the use of plastics and protect us from the harmful plastic particles?
◦ Elderly poverty and suicide
The elderly poverty and suicide rates in Korea is the top 1 among OECD countries. The rate of people dying alone has drastically increased lately as well.
The older generations worked so hard to lay a foundation to better our country, but we are not taking care of them properly.
Will there be a way to use science and technology to make the lives of elders happier?