"AI and Green Transition Convergence to Shape Industrial Competitiveness"... KBCSD Leaders Forum to Be Held

Emphasis on AI-powered autonomous manufacturing and low-carbon process innovation
Policy and financial support to reduce investment uncertainty
Companies share examples of green transitions and AI-driven manufacturing innovation

The business community will discuss ways to strengthen the manufacturing sector's competitiveness by combining artificial intelligence (AI) with the green transition. The Korea Business Council for Sustainable Development (KBCSD), in partnership with the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, will hold the 18th KBCSD Leaders Forum and the 8th Sustainable Corporate Innovation Forum on the 21st at the Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas in Gangnam-gu, Seoul.

The 18th KBCSD Leaders Forum and the 8th Sustainable Corporate Innovation Forum are being held on the 21st at the Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Photo by Seo Mideum

Under the theme “Harnessing the Intelligence of AX to Realize the Value of GX: Choices for Leaders Who Will Lead Korea's Green Transformation (K-GX),” the event will bring together around 250 attendees from domestic and international businesses, government, international organizations, and foreign diplomatic missions in Korea. They will explore ways to strengthen industrial competitiveness in response to the AI revolution and the reorganization of global energy and resource supply chains.

In his opening remarks, KBCSD Chairman Park Jaewan says that “the convergence of the AI transformation (AX) and the green transformation (GX) will be a key driver shaping future industrial competitiveness and market leadership.” He stresses the need to integrate AI into manufacturing to shift toward a high-value-added, ultra-efficient industrial structure; reduce investment uncertainty through consistent government policy support and financial and legal reforms; and establish a stable foundation for clean electricity supplies.

In his keynote address, KBCSD Honorary Chairman Heo Dongsu, also honorary chairman of GS Caltex, will present the proactive restructuring of industry toward intelligent green industries combining AI and the green transition as a key task for reviving manufacturing and gaining an early lead in global markets.

He will propose “three pillars of green-revolution entrepreneurship” to achieve this: ▲ gaining an early lead in new, high-value-added markets by integrating AI and green-transition technologies ▲ making early investments in AI-enabled autonomous manufacturing and low-carbon process innovation, while managing the risks ▲ creating tailored solutions that meet customer demand and generate shared value.

The roles of government, industry, and the financial sector in supporting the transformation of the industrial structure will also be a key topic. KBCSD Honorary Chairman Heo Myungsoo, senior advisor to GS E&C, will stress that practical cooperation in which government, industry, and finance jointly shape markets is essential if Korea's green transformation is to become a new engine of growth.

Specifically, he will propose establishing a public-private partnership framework that links government policy, energy infrastructure, and regulatory reform; industry's commercialization of technology and creation of new green markets; and the financial sector's efforts to mitigate early-stage investment risks and supply long-term capital.

Companies will also share specific green-transition strategies and examples of AI applications. Jung Mookyung, head of sustainability management at Korea Zinc, will introduce the company's eco-friendly smelting innovations and resource self-sufficiency strategy. A special discussion featuring SK Securities CEO Jung Junho and Yulchon LLC Managing Partner and attorney Son Doil, among others, will then address financial and legal reforms needed for the transition to green industries.

Manufacturing innovation cases from global companies will also be presented. Romaric Ernst, Schneider Electric's Asia senior vice president, will discuss manufacturing innovation using AI and strategies for transitioning to eco-friendly energy. François Scheffler, senior vice president at dsm-firmenich, will present examples of sustainable product design and process innovation.

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