Jungjingong, Establishment of Korea-Germany Startup Ecosystem Cooperation Platform

Business Agreement with Hessen Trade & Invest (HTAI) of Germany
Discussion on Korea-Germany Startup Exchange and CBAM Response Cooperation

The Small and Medium Business Corporation (SBC) announced on the 21st that it visited Frankfurt and Berlin, Germany, to establish a cooperative system to support the entry of domestic small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups into the European market. This visit was promoted to strengthen cooperation between the startup ecosystems of Korea and Germany and to enhance the global competitiveness of Korean companies in the European market.

First, on the 19th, Director Kang Seok-jin signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Hessen Trade & Invest GmbH (HTAI), an economic development agency under the state of Hessen, Germany. HTAI is a key institution supporting foreign trade and technological innovation with global companies, and through this agreement, both countries agreed to actively support market entry for SMEs and startups in the green industry and new industry sectors. In particular, they agreed to jointly develop and operate customized local entry programs for promising Korean companies wishing to enter the German market.

Chairman Kang Seok-jin (left) is taking a commemorative photo with CEO Rainer Waldschmidt in Germany on the 19th after signing a business agreement. Photo by Jungjin Gong

On the 20th, they visited Berlin, which has established itself as a global startup hub in Europe, and discussed cooperation plans such as startup cultivation with Berlin Partner, an economic development agency under the Berlin state government. The focus was on developing mutual exchange programs to connect startup ecosystems and expand opportunities for Korean startups to enter the European market.

Director Kang also met with adelphi, a leading consulting firm in the environment and sustainability sector, to discuss response strategies for Korean companies regarding the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), scheduled to be implemented in 2026. CBAM is a system that imposes carbon emission-related costs on overseas products equivalent to those on products within Europe, emerging as a significant challenge for export-oriented economies like Korea.

Following this visit, SBC plans to share Korea’s startup cultivation know-how with Germany and develop various programs to activate exchanges between the two countries. Additionally, through expert exchanges and mentoring, they aim to build a cooperative platform connecting the startup ecosystems of Korea and Germany. Director Kang stated, “Germany is the center of SME growth in Europe, with SME-friendly policies and a strong network,” and added, “Through this cooperation, we will actively support Korean SMEs and startups to successfully establish themselves in the European market and strengthen their global competitiveness.”