South Korea and France Sign 16 Cooperation Documents on AI, Nuclear Fuel, etc.; Samsung Invests Strategically in Mistral AI

KHNP Signs Long-term Enrichment Service Cooperation with France’s Orano

AI, Semiconductor, and Quantum Technology MOU Reached; Nuclear Power MOU to Be Signed Later

Protocol Signed to Revise Military Secrets Protection Agreement

Mutual

On September 8 (local time), South Korea and France signed 16 agreements and memorandums of understanding (MOUs) covering strategic industries such as artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, quantum technologies, nuclear power plant fuel, defense, space, and bio sectors. Samsung Electronics agreed to participate as a strategic investor in Mistral AI, France’s leading generative AI company, while Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) is set to collaborate with French nuclear fuel company Orano for long-term supply of enrichment services.

President Lee Jae-myung and French President Emmanuel Macron hold a joint press conference at the Elysee Palace in Paris on the 8th (local time). 2026.9.8 Yonhap News Agency

According to the Blue House, the governments, public institutions, and companies of both South Korea and France exchanged nine documents during the summit and signed an additional seven agreements during the state visit. This effectively expands the scope of bilateral cooperation to nearly all industries, from advanced technology and energy supply chains to defense and the space industry.

The most noteworthy areas are AI, semiconductors, and quantum technology. The two governments have signed an "MOU on cooperation in AI, semiconductors, and quantum technology," which encompasses joint R&D efforts by researchers and startups, investment attraction, collaboration and business development between semiconductor companies and research institutions, and more. This agreement aims to establish a systemic link between government and research institute-level technology cooperation and practical business projects within the industrial ecosystem.

There have also been follow-up achievements at the corporate level. Samsung Electronics will join Mistral AI as a strategic investor and the two companies will jointly develop an exclusive in-house AI model to protect Samsung Electronics’ semiconductor expertise. This is a case where the letter of intent for AI, semiconductors, and quantum cooperation signed in April has now led to concrete corporate investment.

Cooperation in the nuclear power plant fuel supply chain also became more specific. KHNP and Orano signed a letter of intent for collaboration in the long-term supply of enrichment services. They established basic principles to negotiate long-term supply contracts based on new enrichment facilities, aiming to secure Western enrichment services preemptively and diversify supply sources. The focus is on enhancing stability in medium- and long-term procurement of nuclear fuel against a backdrop of intensifying global competition for nuclear expansion.

Institutions were also established to systematize industrial cooperation across sectors. The two countries’ industry authorities will create a ministerial-level "Industrial Strategic Dialogue" and operate sector-specific working groups. This comprehensive cooperative framework will address not only industrial policy but also trade and investment, supply chains and critical minerals, as well as industrial technology. In intellectual property, cooperation has been expanded beyond patent examination to include AI examination standards, IP finance, and commercialization for future industries.

In defense and security, a protocol amending the military secret information protection agreement was signed. This strengthens the information protection framework by reflecting changes in France’s secret classification system and adding regulations on military secret access restrictions. This enhancement improves the reliability of military information exchanges between the two countries and serves as a stronger institutional foundation for expanding future defense and defense industry cooperation.

The aviation agreement first signed in 1974 was also amended after about a decade of negotiations. Fair competition principles have now been incorporated, and regulations regarding security, safety, environment, and sustainability have been modernized. Institutional foundations supporting the expansion of people and goods exchanges between the two countries have also been reinforced.

In the space sector, the Korea Aerospace Administration (KASA) and the French National Centre for Space Studies (CNES) signed an agreement to promote cooperation in the space industry. The two sides agreed to share space industry policies and build a working-level system to support mutual market entry by SMEs and startups. The focus is on leveraging France’s space industry infrastructure and global network to help Korean space companies expand into Europe.

President Lee Jae-myung and Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong shake hands after the Samsung Electronics-Mistral AI investment agreement ceremony held at the Élysée Palace in Paris, France, on the 8th (local time). On the right is Emmanuel Macron, President of France. Photo by Yonhap News Agency, September 8, 2026.

Cooperation in bio and basic science has also broadened considerably. The Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology signed respective MOUs with French research institutions and companies in the fields of biotechnology, plant science, and new drug development utilizing quantum technology. Key areas of collaboration include AI-driven research on crops for climate change adaptation and quantum-AI hybrid-based new drug development.

K-STAR, an alliance of five specialized science and technology universities (KAIST, DGIST, GIST, UNIST, and POSTECH), agreed with Paris-Saclay University to expand graduate and young researcher exchanges and joint research. The Korea Institute for Advanced Study will also collaborate with Paris-Saclay University in joint research on mathematics, physics, quantum, and AI, and will implement a student researcher program.

Additionally, the police agencies of both countries signed an agreement to collaborate on combating transnational crime, tracking fugitives, and scientific investigations, while Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) and Business France decided to strengthen cooperation to promote investment, trade, and support for startups. Both countries’ ministries of culture signed a new letter of intent to expand cooperation in the cultural and creative industries, joint investments, and the film and cultural arts sectors.

Meanwhile, the two countries have agreed to conclude a mutual logistics support agreement to ensure rapid military logistics support in both peacetime and wartime, and are negotiating the detailed wording. The Blue House also stated that an additional MOU for cooperation in next-generation small modular reactor (SMR) joint research and other nuclear R&D will be signed separately at a later date.

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