KOTRA Hosts Korea-Germany Launchpad Forum to Support Blockchain and AI Innovation Companies' Expansion

Buyer and VC Matching at GITEX Berlin
Global Pitching Competition Unfolds

The Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (hereafter referred to as KOTRA) announced on July 2 that it has created an exchange platform in Berlin, Germany to support domestic tech companies in entering the European supply chain.

On June 29 (local time), KOTRA co-hosted the "Korea-Germany Launchpad Networking Forum" with "AsiaBerlin," a Berlin city government-affiliated organization. The forum was made possible by the demand from participants of the Blockchain Korea Pavilion—jointly organized by the Korea Internet & Security Agency, Busan Technopark, and Daegu Digital Innovation Promotion Agency—at GITEX Europe 2026, an information and communications expo in Berlin seeking to expand cooperation with Korean tech companies.

Exterior view of the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency. Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency

The forum, held at the Berlin CHIC Center, was attended by over 150 people, including representatives from tech companies in both countries, major venture capitalists, and potential partners, resulting in a highly successful event. Under the theme "Ecosystem Focus," Rainer Seider, Chair of AsiaBerlin, Lee Eunseo, CEO of German accelerator 123 Factory, and a representative from KOTRA's Hamburg Trade Center participated as speakers, presenting trends in the startup markets of both countries and opportunities for bilateral cooperation.

In the afternoon, there was a cross-pitching session featuring deep tech innovation companies from Korea and Germany. During the open networking session, participants wore name tags indicating their areas of interest (such as AI, deep tech, consulting, etc.), and engaged in discussions about cooperation strategies in each field.

Additionally, KOTRA provided online strategic lectures for companies participating in the "Supernova Challenge," a startup pitching competition organized by GITEX Europe with a total prize pool of 50,000 euros (approximately 80 million won). KOTRA also offered one-on-one mentoring for semi-finalists, contributing to the emergence of award-winning companies.

A representative in charge of digital innovation at a major German medical group S stated, "This was a rare opportunity for Korea’s AI and blockchain companies’ innovative technologies to meet the needs of Germany’s industrial and medical sectors," adding, "Based on discussions at this exhibition, we plan to actively review the possibility of actual collaboration."

Kang Sangyeop, Vice President of KOTRA and Head of the SME and Mid-sized Enterprises Division, said, "The European innovation technology market demands not only product supply, but also partnerships centered on technology collaboration, joint R&D, and local proof-of-concept (PoC) projects. We will do our utmost to provide follow-up support so that the demand identified at this Launchpad Forum with the Berlin city government leads to the implementation of PoC projects and export contracts for our companies."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.