The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) said it will hold the "Global super-gap tech conference 2025" at Walkerhill Hotel in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, from the 28th to the 29th to secure new-technology strategies for deep-tech Start - Up companies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and to spur their global expansion.
The conference is a follow-up to the APEC Startup Alliance, which was officially launched at the 31st APEC Minister meeting on small and medium-sized enterprises held in Jeju in Aug., and is intended to consolidation the Start - Up ecosystems of APEC member economies into a single network under Korea's leadership. About 300 people, including representatives of domestic and overseas deep-tech Start - Ups, officials from large companies, and experts, attended the event.
Now in its third year, the event is themed "AX for ALL," a great AI transition for all. The program includes technology forums and panel discussions across 10 emerging industries from AI to quantum technology, special sessions such as an APEC country inbound program, side events including open innovation, and a technology exhibition.
On the first day's technology forum, hosted by KAIST, Professor Hwangbo Je-min gave a presentation and joined a panel discussion on "A virtuous-cycle ecosystem for the robot industry newly opened by the convergence of humanoids and AI." That was followed by 13 sessions covering the 10 super-gap fields.
In the following special sessions, programs were offered for deep-tech Start - Ups and the general public to obtain the latest issues and technical information. On the day, a presentation was given on "Goals, status, and future plans for developing an independent AI foundation model project" related to the K-AI proprietary foundation model, followed by a discussion on collaboration plans with AI Start - Ups. In addition, embassies from seven countries, including APEC member economies, introduced each country's global inbound startup support programs, and sessions were held for exchanges with and investment attraction from overseas investment institutions, including the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Investment.
Side events included eight programs for the growth and global expansion of deep-tech Start - Ups, such as open innovation, investment attraction, and networking. In AI and robotics, open innovation was run for collaboration between major conglomerates and Start - Ups, while in bio and pharmaceuticals, commercial officers from embassies of major countries such as the United States and Germany took part to discuss strategies for overseas expansion. The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) also held an investor relations (IR) session to attract investment for promising Start - Ups, targeting investors in the "super-gap VC membership" formed this year.
Minister Han Seong-sook of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) said, "Deep-tech technologies represented by AI go beyond simple ideas or service innovation to fundamentally transform everyday life and industrial structures, and they are taking their place as a core pillar of the future," adding, "The MSS will closely support a wide range of policies through cooperation with relevant ministries so that deep-tech Start - Ups can grow and advance, keeping pace with the rapidly changing global market policy environment."