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In the global competition to attract talent, capital and technologies, major innovation fairs play a role that goes far beyond simple commercial networking. They have become spaces where alliances are formed, where international ambitions are tested and where national ecosystems seek to gain visibility among investors, industrialists and decision-makers.
In this context, the Korean presence at VivaTech is no longer a representation process. It is part of a broader strategy: supporting the internationalization of the country’s startups and creating the conditions for lasting collaborations with the main global innovation centers.
For several years, South Korea has established itself as one of the most dynamic technological environments in Asia. Driven by a leading digital infrastructure, a strong industrial culture and structured public support for entrepreneurship, it has seen the emergence of a new generation of startups capable of positioning themselves on global issues: artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, energy transition, robotics and even smart industry.
For these companies, the question is no longer just about succeeding in their domestic market. The challenge is to transform their technological advance into an international presence.
This is precisely the objective pursued by the Korea Institute of Startup & Entrepreneurship Development (KISED), the main Korean public organization dedicated to the development of startups, which is once again piloting the K-Startup Pavilion at VivaTech this year.
A Franco-Korean relationship which is entering a new phase.
The 2026 edition of VivaTech takes on a special dimension. It coincides both with the tenth anniversary of the Paris event and with the 140 years of diplomatic relations between France and Korea.
Beyond the symbol, this convergence illustrates a deeper reality: the two countries today have numerous meeting points in their innovation strategies.
France has gradually established itself as one of the main European centers of artificial intelligence, climate tech, deeptech and industrial innovation. For its part, Korea benefits from a strong industrialization capacity, an advanced technological culture and a market that is particularly favorable to rapid experimentation with new solutions.
For KISED, Europe now represents a strategic area of ​​development. The objective is not only to allow Korean startups to exhibit their technologies at an international event. It is also about creating concrete opportunities for investment, proof of concept, industrial partnerships, distribution and open innovation.
This approach reflects a broader evolution observed in many technological ecosystems: value is no longer measured solely by the quality of a technology, but by the ability to integrate it into international networks of partners, customers and investors.
Choi Yeolsoo, architect of global cooperation at KISED.
At the heart of this strategy is Choi Yeolsoo, Managing Director of Global Affairs at KISED
Its role goes far beyond organizing delegations or participating in international trade fairs. It consists of building bridges between ecosystems, identifying institutional, industrial and financial partners, and supporting Korean startups in their access to new markets.
This mission reflects a strong conviction: in a technological environment that has become global, the most promising innovations can no longer develop in isolation.
According to him, one of the main challenges facing startups is transforming their technological excellence into real economic opportunities. A vision that guides KISED’s international action today.
Interview with Choi Yeolsoo
FW.MEDIA: What are the main challenges and opportunities that you want to highlight regarding the global startup ecosystem?
Choi Yeolsoo: One of the major challenges of the global startup ecosystem is to connect innovative technologies to real market opportunities. The European market places great importance on technological reliability, sustainability, regulatory compliance and long-term partnerships. This environment represents an important opportunity for Korean startups with solid technologies, allowing them to validate their international competitiveness and develop their activities.
FW.MEDIA: What role should international innovation play in the development of startups?
Choi Yeolsoo: Global innovation cannot be driven by companies alone. It requires international cooperation between various actors: public institutions, investors, large groups, accelerators, universities and research centers.
FW.MEDIA: What place does VivaTech occupy in this dynamic?
Choi Yeolsoo: VivaTech is a platform capable of concretely promoting this type of collaboration. It will constitute an essential connection point to strengthen innovation cooperation between Korea and France.
AI, climate and digital trust as areas of convergence.
Among the themes highlighted within the K-Startup Pavilion, several appear particularly aligned with the current priorities of European companies.
The first concerns artificial intelligence.
As the adoption of generative AI accelerates in organizations, the question is no longer just about model performance. Companies are now seeking to ensure system reliability, control risks and meet new regulatory requirements.
The governance of AI, the security of autonomous agents and the management of risks linked to hallucinations thus become strategic subjects.
The second convergence concerns the energy transition and climate tech.
Faced with decarbonization objectives and increasing environmental constraints, European companies are looking for solutions capable of improving their energy efficiency while reducing their carbon footprint.
Finally, cybersecurity and digital identity appear to be structuring issues in a context marked by the increase in threats and the generalization of digital uses.
These are all areas in which Korean startups are now seeking to establish cooperation with European partners.
Three startups that illustrate the evolution of the Korean ecosystem.
To illustrate this dynamic, KISED highlights three companies representative of the new priorities of the Korean ecosystem.
YATAV, speaks on a subject that has become central: trust in artificial intelligence.
The company develops technologies to assess the reliability of generative AI systems, control the access rights of intelligent agents and support organizations in the implementation of appropriate governance frameworks.
At a time when the European AI Act is redefining the requirements applicable to artificial intelligence systems, this approach responds to a growing concern among companies: securing the adoption of AI without slowing down innovation.
Ninewatt positions itself on the energy optimization of buildings.
Using artificial intelligence, the company seeks to improve energy management and reduce carbon emissions associated with urban infrastructure. Its positioning resonates directly with European objectives in terms of energy transition and the development of more sustainable cities.
Fornatures develops biological infrastructures dedicated to carbon capture and improving urban air quality.
Through this approach, the company is part of a broader movement aimed at integrating environmental technologies into urban planning and climate resilience strategies.
Beyond their respective sectors, these three companies share one thing in common: they respond to global issues and are now looking for partners capable of accelerating their international deployment.
A logic of cooperation rather than export.
What emerges from the strategy carried out by KISED is not only a desire to export Korean technologies. The ambition appears broader: to encourage collaborations allowing each party to benefit from the strengths of the other.
Korea brings its execution capacity, technological excellence and speed of industrialization. France and Europe offer an environment rich in talent, investors, manufacturers and innovation infrastructures.
In an environment where innovation now occurs on a global scale, the ability to create bridges between ecosystems becomes almost as strategic as the technology itself. The challenges linked to artificial intelligence, the energy transition, digital sovereignty and even industrial transformation transcend borders and call for new forms of cooperation.
For startups and large groups alike, the challenge is no longer just to identify where the most promising innovations emerge. It consists of identifying environments capable of scaling them up, confronting them with new markets and connecting them to partners who will accelerate their development.
It is in this logic that KISED envisages its presence at VivaTech. More than an exhibition space, the K-Startup Pavilion aims to be a point of convergence between public actors, investors, industrialists and entrepreneurs. A dialogue and collaboration platform designed to transform meetings into projects, and opportunities into lasting partnerships between the Korean and European ecosystems.
