On the 3rd, the government held the "defense AI ecosystem development forum" at the Grand Hyatt Seoul. The forum was prepared to strengthen whole-of-government cooperation for defense AI development and to secure momentum to promote major defense AI projects in 2026.
Minister Han Seong-sook of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS), Minister Ahn Gyu-baek of the Ministry of National Defense, Minister Kim Jung-kwan of the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MOTI), Vice Chair Im Moon-young of the National AI Strategy Committee, and more than 500 representatives from private AI-related corporations attended.
On the day, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS), the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MOTI), and the Ministry of National Defense, the core ministries for manufacturing and industry AX, signed a memorandum of understanding to effectively implement AX policies in the defense and industry sectors.
The four ministries will pursue AX innovation based on the "independent AI foundation model project," identify demand for defense AI technologies, provide demonstration opportunities, support the use of defense R&D infrastructure, develop core AI technologies and build infrastructure, expand use across defense, industry, and the public sectors, foster AI talent, broaden the application of AI technologies in the defense sector from the defense industry and manufacturing fields, and discover and nurture innovative startups and small and midsize enterprises in defense AX.
Through this, AX in the defense and industry sectors is expected to accelerate, continuously securing competitiveness in the defense industry and moving closer to the goal of an advanced, trusted strong military.
On the day, each ministry announced ▲ the defense AX strategy ▲ the mid- to long-term execution strategy for defense-ICT collaboration ▲ the defense industry AX strategy and support measures ▲ the defense innovation startup support program, and shared the future vision and tasks for defense AI.
Minister Han Seong-sook of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) said, "AI adoption is accelerating not only in the private sector but also in the defense sector, and AX startups are rapidly emerging worldwide as key players in defense," adding, "In Korea as well, it is necessary to spur participation by startups in new industries, expand the defense industry into advanced fields including AI, and strengthen the competitiveness of the defense industry corporations ecosystem." She emphasized, "The Ministry of SMEs and Startups will work with related ministries to expand entry opportunities for startups into the defense sector, and by combining defense AX requirements with startups' AX capabilities, we will foster AX innovative startups that can play active roles in both the private and defense pillars."
Minister Ahn Gyu-baek of the Ministry of National Defense said, "AI transition in the defense sector is more than a simple technological innovation; it is a game changer that will determine the defense power of the Republic of Korea," adding, "Through this memorandum of understanding, we will combine each ministry's expertise and capabilities and secure policy connectivity to spread AI technology across defense and build an ecosystem that leads to national AI development."
Minister Kim Jung-kwan of the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MOTI) said, "In an era when advanced technologies such as AI determine security and the economy, spreading defense AX is not a choice but an essential task," adding, "Based on a strong triangular axis of AI, manufacturing, and defense, the ministry will identify dual-use technology development needs centered on AI in connection with M.AX (Manufacturing AX) and provide focused support." He added, "To create an AX market in the defense industry, starting next year we will push the AX sprint project with speed, and in collaboration with the military, we will also strengthen support for the demonstration of new weapons equipped with AI technologies, thereby actively supporting the establishment of a defense AI ecosystem."