Korea, France strengthen startup ties at annual event

[Courtesy of FKCCI]

Entrepreneurs from South Korea and France sought collaboration and further business opportunities during the annual startup event led by French Tech Seoul in partnership with the French-Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI).

According to the FKCCI on Tuesday, the five-day-long Tech4Good Tour 2023 successfully concluded on November 10. During the event period, a delegation of innovative startups and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from France explored the Korean market, marking a significant milestone in promoting collaboration between the startup ecosystems in the two countries.

Initiated in 2019, Tech4Good is an annual event that aims to connect the Korean and French industrial ecosystems, support companies with a positive impact on society and the environment and foster economic exchange between the two countries. This year, with a special focus on global trends, various collaborative events and conferences were held under the themes of “Deep Tech” and “Green Tech.” To mark the 10th anniversary of La French Tech, a startup support initiative led by the French government, a celebratory event was also organized on the sidelines of the annual event.

During the event period, the French delegation visited strategic locations, including the Incheon Free Economic Zone (IFEZ), Gyeonggi Center for Creative Economy & Innovation (GCCEI), and Seoul Startup Hub, where they gained business insights. They also connected with the vibrant local and global business through their participation in the COMEUP+ global startup festival, which was organized by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and discussed expanding technological collaboration in the beauty industry between the two countries, engaging with industry players such as Coupang Inc., Cosmetic Valley, and Emova Group SA.

At the “Global Startup Night” event co-hosted by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the FKCCI on the sidelines of the startup festival, Etienne Gautheron and Nicolas Mercier, co-presidents of La French Tech Seoul, emphasized the continuous impact of Korea-France exchanges.

The Tech4Good Summit was also held on the last day of the event, where advancements in healthcare technology and the establishment of a sustainable future through environmentally friendly solutions were discussed. Three memoranda of understandings (MOUs) were also signed between La French Tech Seoul and PEN Ventures, and Viva Technology and COMEUP.

During the Startup Pitch Contest, featuring 10 French and Korean startups vying for a customized international support program, BBalance claimed the first place and a grand prize valued at $10,000, followed by QPerfect and LabSD.

Korean participants in the event included the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, Invest Seoul, Korea Institute of Startup & Entrepreneurship Development (KISED), and Korea International Trade Association (KITA).