Seoul to Strengthen AI-Bio Collaboration System... Oh Sehoon: "We Will Build a Growth Ladder"

Seoul Hosts '2026 Seoul Tech Summit Forum'
AI and Bio Industries Converge to Lead Healthcare
Oh Sehoon: "From Technology Development to Global Advancement"
Expansion of Seoul-style R&D and Support for Industry-Academia-Research Collaboration

The Seoul Metropolitan Government is building a collaborative system between artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and the bio industry. The focus is on sharing the latest technologies and policy directions in AI and bio, and creating links for cooperation and investment among companies. Mayor Oh Se-hoon also expressed his support by stating, "We will establish a growth ladder for companies encompassing technology development, demonstration, investment, and global advancement."

The '2026 Seoul Tech Summit Forum,' held on July 16 at the Plaza Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul, took place under the theme of leading the future of healthcare through convergence of AI technology and the bio industry. The event was hosted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, with Seoul Business Agency (SBA) and Yonsei University as co-organizers.

On the afternoon of the 16th, Oh Se-hoon, Mayor of Seoul, attended the '2026 Seoul Tech Summit' held at the Plaza Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul. Seoul City

'Seoul Tech Summit' is a Seoul-style R&D cooperation platform. It evolved from the previous 'Seoul Tech Meetup', which operated with division meetings by strategic industry, into an event to expand inter-industry collaboration and technology exchange, making its debut this year. Since 2023, the city has been operating the 'Seoul Tech Summit Council' centered on companies participating in Seoul-style R&D. The city is supporting member companies with collaboration and investment, with their combined sales reaching 496.8 billion won and their total investment raised amounting to 1.1987 trillion won in 2024 alone. As of last year, there were 263 member companies, and 162 additional companies are expected to join as new members this year.

At the forum, Professor Yoo Young-joon from Chung-Ang University's Department of AI and Jang Jongsung, Head of the LG AI Research Lab, gave presentations on technology trends, including the demand for AI technology in clinical settings. Professor Suk Cha-ok from Seoul National University's Department of Chemistry and Jang So-young, a director at Celltrion, introduced 'AI+Bio business strategies.' At the end of the forum, a partnership zone was opened, facilitating networking and cooperation consultations between participating organizations and companies.

Outstanding company cases that have grown with Seoul-style R&D support were also introduced. 'Flitto', a company specializing in AI language data, commercialized its AI-based multilingual simultaneous interpretation solution, 'Live Translation'. This technology has been applied at large-scale international meetings at home and abroad, including the APEC Senior Officials' Meeting, yielding successful technology commercialization results.

The council plans to expand its support through a range of programs. It will hold integrated meetings, regular forums, and R&D achievement sharing sessions, focusing on five divisions: ▲Artificial Intelligence ▲Bio ▲Strategic Industries (Creative·Fintech) ▲Future Industries (Robotics·Quantum·Space) ▲Policy (Regulation·Socially Disadvantaged Groups). Internally, the city is considering expanding investment linkages for its member companies.

The 'Seoul-style R&D' program, which supports technology development for SMEs, venture companies, and startups in Seoul, will also broaden its benefits. Since 2020, Seoul-style R&D has focused on technology development to address the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Key target industries include AI, bio, robotics, fintech, and quantum. Based on the 'Ordinance on Strategic Industry Promotion and Corporate Support,' the city has invested a total of 906.1 billion won, starting with industry-academia-research cooperation projects in 2005 and continuing through to 2025. The city provides support for personnel expenses, research facilities and equipment, research materials, and research activities to selected companies.

Tangible results have followed. According to an analysis of annual business performance by Seoul-style R&D companies over the past five years, total commercialization sales by participating companies amounted to 538.9 billion won, with 467.3 billion won in investment attracted, and 6,035 new jobs created during the period. Companies in their third year of Seoul-style R&D selection also saw significant increases in both commercialization sales and investment attracted. Commercialization sales rose from 19.4 billion won in 2022 to 59.9 billion won in 2024, and investment attracted increased from 18 billion won in 2022 to 109.8 billion won in 2024.

Mayor Oh said, "We will make Seoul a global top 3 city where citizens can experience technological innovation through the convergence of AI and bio first."

Meanwhile, Yoo Hyuk, Special Professor of Computer Science at Korea University and Head of the Future Economy Division of the G3 Seoul Planning Committee—a top-level policy planning body designing Seoul’s future—also attended the event. The city plans to further develop its strategies for fostering future core industries such as AI and bio, with the 'G3 Seoul Planning Committee' at its center.

On the afternoon of the 16th, Oh Se-hoon, mayor of Seoul, attended the "2026 Seoul Tech Summit" held at the Plaza Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul. Seoul City

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