AICA, '2026 AI Technology Forum and Meetup Day'... Big Tech and Startups Explore Mutual Growth

Seven South Korean and global companies take part... One-on-one business matching
Discuss technology validation, joint commercialization, and expansion into overseas markets

Global big tech companies and South Korean artificial intelligence (AI) startups discussed ways to cooperate on technology validation, joint commercialization, and expansion into overseas markets.

The AI Industry Convergence Business Division (AICA) announced on November 11 that it would host the “DEEP DIVE INTO 2026 AI Technology Forum and Startup Partnership Meetup Day” at the Grand Hyatt Seoul through November 12.

The event is part of the “Super-Gap Startup Project,” hosted by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the Korea Institute of Startup & Entrepreneurship Development. It was organized to expand the application of AI technology in industrial settings and create business opportunities for South Korean startups.

Darius Liu of Adaption AI spoke at the “DEEP DIVE INTO 2026 AI Technology Forum and Startup Partnership Meetup Day” at the Grand Hyatt Seoul on the 11th, outlining the direction of next-generation AI technology. Photo provided by the AI Industry Convergence Business Unit.

In particular, the event linked the technology forum with one-on-one consultations between companies, focusing on identifying global companies' industry-specific technology needs and discussing concrete opportunities for collaboration with South Korean startups.

OpenAI, Microsoft, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Siemens, Samsung SDS, KT, Rebellions, and others took part in the event.

These companies held a total of 21 one-on-one business-matching meetings with promising South Korean AI startups, exploring collaboration in a range of areas, including AI models and platforms, cloud computing, semiconductors, and industrial digital transformation.

OpenAI explored opportunities to enhance services using AI models and APIs, while AWS considered collaboration on building AI platforms and expanding global services.

Microsoft discussed expanding the use of neural processing units (NPUs), South Korean-made AI semiconductors, while Siemens discussed collaboration with startups focused on industrial AI and digital transformation solutions.

Samsung SDS focused on building an AI business ecosystem based on its SCP Marketplace; KT on industry-specific artificial intelligence transformation (AX) and information security technologies; and Rebellions on validating public infrastructure and identifying companies that could use NPUs. At the technology forum held before the business-matching meetings, the development of AI technology and strategies for its use across industries were key topics.

The forum, titled “AI Beyond Technology: From the Evolution of Technology to Industrial Value,” featured experts from global AI companies as speakers.

Darius Liu of Adaption AI explained the direction of the technological shift beyond improving the performance of existing AI models toward AI systems that continuously adapt to changing environments and evolve.

Simon Guerin, chief technology officer (CTO) at Siemens, analyzed demand for AI across South Korean industries and investment trends, and introduced strategies to help startups enter the market and expand their business through collaboration with large companies.

Choi Kang-rim, a general manager at Microsoft, discussed the potential uses of Agentic AI, which can perform tasks autonomously, particularly in manufacturing and mobility, and the changes it could bring to industrial settings.

After presenting demand in the South Korean AI market and strategies for collaboration at the technology forum, Siemens also took part in one-on-one consultations with startups.

AICA plans to continue managing the partnerships between domestic and overseas companies formed through the event and strengthen follow-up support to help startups validate their technologies, commercialize them jointly, and expand into global markets.

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