Kim Hyun-woo, Seoul Business Agency (SBA) CEO | Filming – AVING News
Seoul Economic Promotion Agency (SBA) held the ‘Seoul Tech Meetup Year-End Networking Day’ event on the 3rd floor of the Design Lab at Seoul DDP (Dongdaemun Design Plaza) on Saturday, December 30, 2023.
This event, attended by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, SBA, Seoul Tech Meetup member companies, R&D companies, investors and IR participants, was held to discuss the formation of a close ecosystem and growth potential in the deep tech industry, one of the future growth engines of Seoul and the Korean economy.
The amount of investment made in deep tech companies worldwide by 2023 is estimated to be around 177 trillion won, and it is predicted that it will continue to grow to 277 trillion won by 2025. Accordingly, the Seoul Economic Promotion Agency launched the Seoul Tech Meetup Council in June last year to support solidarity and coexistence among domestic technology companies, thereby strengthening its commitment to building a Korean-style deep tech ecosystem.
Filming and Editing – AVING News
Currently, the Seoul Tech Meetup Council, which has 100 member companies, has 3 companies about to IPO, ▲36 Series A ▲6 Series B ▲3 Series C, etc. The cumulative investment amount is about 372 billion won. The annual sales amount to 290 billion won.
Seoul Tech Meetup Networking Day was an event aimed at commemorating the meaningful achievements achieved by member companies, and in particular, the Seoul Economic Promotion Agency, which sponsored the event, signed an MOU with Seoul Tech Meetup for the creation and cooperation of a Seoul-type R&D innovation ecosystem. )’ was concluded. Starting with this agreement, the two organizations plan to strengthen mutual cooperation in establishing activities and programs to revitalize Seoul’s technology enterprise ecosystem.
As the will to fully support the deep tech industry becomes official, public interest in domestic technology companies is also growing. Accordingly, global media AVING News met with Kim Hyun-woo, CEO of the Seoul Economic Promotion Agency, to hear about the purpose and purpose of the Korean deep tech ecosystem.
Kim Hyun-woo, CEO of Seoul Economic Promotion Agency, conducting an interview with reporter Yanick | Filming – AVING News
Q1. What kind of event is this 2023 Seoul Tech Meetup Year-End Networking Day held under the sponsorship of the Seoul Economic Promotion Agency?
A. CEO Kim Hyun-woo: Seoul Tech Meetup Year-End Networking Day is an event held to gather deep tech companies located in Seoul to communicate with each other and to praise the achievements of the past year. Deep tech, which encompasses fields such as biomedical, AI (artificial intelligence), fintech, and blockchain, is a technology field that can be said to be the future of Seoul.
Previously, the Seoul Economic Promotion Agency felt the need for an organized and organic ecosystem in order to accelerate the performance of Seoul companies in these fields and the subsequent growth of the company. Accordingly, it launched the Seoul Tech Meetup Council in June and continues to support it to this day. .
Q2. I am curious about the background behind the formation of the Seoul Tech Meetup Council and what goals it aims to achieve.
A. CEO Kim Hyun-woo: As mentioned earlier, the Seoul Economic Promotion Agency expects that the deep tech industry ecosystem will soon become the future food source of Seoul and Korea. This event was also held with these expectations in mind.
As deep tech is a field that will become a major driver of future growth, organizations such as the Seoul Economic Promotion Agency should continue to provide policy support to provide a more convenient business environment for companies in the industry. However, with the existing industry atmosphere, it was difficult to understand what needs companies had for support measures created in the public sector.
Kim Hyun-woo, Seoul Business Agency (SBA) CEO | Filmed by – AVING News
To resolve these limitations, the Seoul Economic Promotion Agency organized a consultative body called Seoul Tech Meetup. It is an important process for an organization to consider what and how to support and prepare effective policies, and we sought to create a culture where beneficiaries can cooperate and communicate with each other and specify the support strategy based on the points of agreement discovered by the company.
Furthermore, the public sector must always seek the means for national growth and prosperity, and if a clear path is visible, there is an obligation to actively support it. The Seoul Economic Promotion Agency found its duty to revitalize the deep tech ecosystem.
Q3. Do you have any thoughts on the future of Seoul Tech Meetup and its direction of development?
A. CEO Kim Hyun-woo: We look forward to a future in which companies that have received our support can continue to secure their own technological capabilities and thereby expand their influence in the global market. We hope that companies from the Seoul Tech Meetup Council will achieve listing at home and abroad, and that under their leadership, jobs will be created and this will lead to national economic growth.
Kim Hyun-woo, CEO of the Seoul Economic Promotion Agency, giving a congratulatory speech at the ‘Seoul Tech Meetup Year-End Networking Day’ event. │ Filmed by Aving News
Q4. Seoul Tech Meetup is also scheduled to participate in CES 2024, the world’s largest IT and home appliance exhibition. Are your preparations going well?
A. CEO Kim Hyun-woo: The Seoul Economic Promotion Agency supported the participation of 85 companies in Seoul in CES 2024, and their technologies and products can be seen at the ‘Seoul Integration Hall’ at Eureka Park. There will be a large number of companies selected for innovation awards in recognition of their excellent technology and market potential. In addition, the size of the common hall was further expanded to accommodate the large number of participating companies.
Accordingly, the Seoul Unification Center is expected to be one of the coolest and most popular venues at this year’s CES. As we worked hard to gather the values of 85 companies in one place, visitors who visit the site will never regret it.
Kim Hyun-woo, CEO of Seoul Economic Promotion Agency, conducting an interview with reporter Yanick | Filming – Aving News
Q5. Is there anything about the Seoul Economic Promotion Agency that you would like to make more widely known to the public?
A. CEO Kim Hyun-woo: On the day that Seoul Tech Meetup Networking Day was held, Seoul Cone, an event to welcome the new year in Seoul with influencers from around the world, was also held here at DDP. It is an event where more than 3,100 influencer teams from 58 countries around the world gather, and as many as 28 sessions will be held from December 30th to January 1st.
Unlike existing expos or exhibitions that focus on products, technologies, or objects, Seoul Cone is significant in that it is the world’s first and largest expo that focuses on influencers. We ask for your interest in the activities of the Seoul Economic Promotion Agency as it continues to make new attempts.
Meanwhile, the Seoul Economic Promotion Agency and Seoul Tech Meetup are △jointly hosting events and programs to revitalize Seoul Tech Meetup △connecting with Seoul Economic Promotion Agency support projects △collecting and reflecting policy proposals △activating detailed programs by division △plans to support the fostering and development of new industries in Seoul We plan to strengthen cooperation in various fields, including development.
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