Muheop Gwangju Jeonnam Headquarters Launches 'Innovative Companies Council' to Prepare for Digital Innovation

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Jin-hyung] Companies aiming to create new markets and innovate existing businesses through open innovation gathered in one place.

The Korea International Trade Association (KITA) Gwangju-Jeonnam Regional Headquarters (Head Lee Kwon-jae) launched the ‘Gwangju-Jeonnam Innovative Companies Council’ by inviting representatives and second-generation managers of export companies in the region preparing for digital innovation at the Gwangju-Jeonnam Innovation Forum held on the 22nd.

At the Innovation Forum, there was an introduction to KITA’s open innovation support projects and a special lecture on leading cases of local companies that actually participated.

Kim Mi-kyung, a team leader attending from KITA’s Seoul headquarters, said, “Regional companies must innovate export competitiveness through open innovation and pioneer a borderless digital market,” adding that the headquarters and regional offices will cooperate to support Gwangju-Jeonnam export companies in actively connecting with excellent startups in Seoul and nationwide.

Following the special lecture, during the networking session, participating company representatives introduced their digital innovation goals and shared know-how.

A representative of a local company attending said, “Seeing cases where fellow regional companies like us establish digital innovation goals, discover partner startups, and jointly develop new businesses provided much reference and motivation.”

Moreover, the newly launched regional Innovative Companies Council is expected to serve as a focal point for accumulating innovation capabilities for Gwangju-Jeonnam companies through regular forums and networking on digital innovation, as well as visits to domestic and international global innovation growth fairs.

Additionally, it will support new business development and competitiveness innovation of existing export businesses through open innovation with KITA and related organizations. Networking among second-generation managers responsible for the future of participating companies will also be activated to foster them as leaders of future digital innovation.

Lee Kwon-jae, head of KITA, stated, “In addition to the traditional role of connecting buyers and our companies, KITA will create export innovation cases through cooperation between mid-sized export companies and startups centered on the Innovative Companies Council.”