Over 150 Korean and French Innovators Gather to Launch Collaboration
KITA and Viva Technology Join Forces for Startup Event Partnership
Vice Chairman Lee Inho Presents Green Trade Vision as Sole Korean Keynote Speaker
26 Promising Korean Startups Participate in Joint Pavilion at Viva Technology
The Korea International Trade Association announced that it held the 'Korea-France Open Innovation Summit' at the Korean Cultural Center in France, Paris, on the 10th (local time).
This event served as a preliminary exchange to invite France as the guest country for 'NextRise' in 2026, and was designed to kick off full-scale global cooperation between startups and large corporations from both countries. 'NextRise,' jointly hosted by the Korea International Trade Association and Korea Development Bank, has been Korea's leading startup event since 2019.
Approximately 150 people attended the event, including startups, large corporations, government officials, and representatives from related organizations from both Korea and France. On the Korean side, more than 30 startups including Purlpit, as well as the Korea Institute of Design Promotion and the Korea Tourism Organization, participated alongside the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in France. On the French side, major corporations such as LVMH, Dassault Syst?mes, L'Or?al, and Renault, as well as representatives from the Mouvement des Entreprises de France (MEDEF), Business France, and the Paris Region Development Agency, attended.
In his opening remarks, Lee Inho, Vice Chairman of the Korea International Trade Association, stated, "Globally, corporate venture capital (CVC) is emerging as a key driver of open innovation." He added, "Both Korea and France have vibrant CVC ecosystems, and I hope that through strategic partnerships, the innovation ecosystems of our two countries will be substantially connected."
The event featured presentations on the open innovation strategies of French conglomerates, global investment cases by Samsung Venture Investment, and product and technology pitches by 16 startups from both countries. Business meetings and networking sessions were also held.
The Trade Association also signed a business agreement with the organizers of 'Viva Technology,' Europe's largest startup event, on the same day. Both sides plan to expand cooperation between the Korean and European startup ecosystems through future speaker exchanges, marketing collaborations, and joint program planning.
Vice Chairman Lee has been invited as the only Korean official keynote speaker at 'Viva Technology 2025,' held from June 11 to 14, and is scheduled to give a lecture on "Korea's Green Trade Leading Sustainable Transition." The lecture will introduce cases of Korean companies adopting green technologies and discuss ways to strengthen the Korea-EU green partnership.
Meanwhile, during the Viva Technology event, the Trade Association is also operating a joint booth called 'Stylish Korea' with 26 promising Korean startups. Participating companies are exploring collaboration opportunities with local firms such as LVMH through pre-arranged business matching. Lee Sunyong, CEO of Purlpit, a startup that has developed an AI-based shoe size recommendation solution, stated, "Active and substantive networking with global companies and investors is taking place."
On the 10th (local time) at the 'Korea-France Open Innovation Summit' held in Paris, France, Lee Inho, Vice Chairman of the Korea International Trade Association (front row left), and Francois Bitouzet, CEO of Viva Technology (front row right), are posing for a commemorative photo after signing a business agreement (MOU) between the Korea International Trade Association and Viva Technology.
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