"The innovativeness of OpenAI combined with Microsoft (MS) resources has produced disruptive innovation. Anthropic is also engaging in strategic collaborations with various large corporations. Korea, too, must combine the innovativeness of Start - Ups with the resources of large corporations to compete in the global market."
Baek Jun-ho, CEO of FuriosaAI, said this during a panel discussion at the Global Super Gap Tech Conference 2025 held on the 28th at Walkerhill Hotel in Gwangjin District, Seoul. The event was prepared by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) to support the acquisition of new technologies by deep-tech Start - Ups such as artificial intelligence (AI) and their global expansion.
At the panel discussion on the theme of "Korea's AI great transformation and innovative AI Start - Ups" on the day, panelists with one voice stressed that "to secure global competitiveness in the AI industry, a win-win structure between large corporations and Start - Ups is essential."
The discussion featured Gong Deuk-jo, vice president of the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Cho Kyung-won, director of startup policy at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS), Bae Sun-min, executive director at KT, Jared Quincy Davis, CEO of Mithril AI, and Baek Jun-ho, CEO of FuriosaAI.
Director of startup policy Cho Kyung-won said, "Even when Start - Ups have capabilities, it is hard for them to enter the market or find use cases," and noted, "We are addressing this issue by strengthening open innovation with large corporations." Open innovation is a cooperative model in which large corporations create new value by using the technologies and ideas of external Start - Ups.
On site, collaboration is actively taking place in a format where large corporations present problems to be solved and Start - Ups respond with technology. KT executive director Bae Sun-min said, "Start - Ups are entities that pioneer new domains, and when corporations present their data or problems, we work together in a way that solves them," and added, "As the cycle of AI technology changes rapidly in two- to three-month units, we need Start - Ups that can respond flexibly when technological bases or personnel are lacking."
Nota CEO Chae Myung-su cited "road map sharing" as a condition for successful open innovation. Chae pointed out, "For large corporations and Start - Ups to win-win, they must share their directions," adding, "Until now, it was often a 'dreaming different dreams' relationship in which large corporations and Start - Ups held different goals." Chae emphasized, "Only by opening each other's road maps transparently and cooperating closely is true coexistence possible."
Advice also emerged that a "fundamental philosophy" is important for the global expansion of Start - Ups. In a keynote, CEO Jared Quincy Davis said, "Corporations that understand the form and essence of AI will ultimately survive in the global market," and said, "You need to define precisely where AI is needed and concentrate your capabilities there." CEO Baek Jun-ho likewise stressed, "Only by securing global corporation-level competitiveness in corporate culture and vision, innovation, and disruptive power can you scale up into the global market."
Director of startup policy Cho said the government will support Start - Ups so they can use global infrastructure as a matter of policy. Cho said, "We plan to establish a venture Start - Up campus in Silicon Valley so that outstanding Start - Ups can grow overseas," and added, "We are exploring various support measures, such as using the overseas networks of nonprofit organizations like UKF."