Opportunities for collaborations and funding - Sweden and Korea

Are you interested in Korea and wish to receive personal contact and targeted offers for funding and support. Kontakta Kim Silvasti.

As one of the most industrialized countries in the world, Korea is at the forefront of many industrial segments where Swedish companies can act as both partners and suppliers. Opportunities exist in a wide range of areas such as, digitalisation and AI, industry, sustainable mobility, sustainable energy solutions and healthcare and consumer goods.

Through its international innovation work together with the Swedish Innovation and Research Council on site and Business Sweden, Vinnova has identified that we can make a difference in sectors such as semiconductors, telecommunications 5G-6G, quantum technology, data management platforms, so-called "ai governance", metaverse, digital infrastructure, edtech, advanced manufacturing in industry, digital twins and IoT solutions. Important areas are also mobility, electric vehicles, batteries, hydrogen, sustainable energy and space. In addition to that, we see similarities with Sweden in Korea's aging population and the health sector.

Sweden can also be a beacon in sustainability, gender equality and democratic human rights.

Activities and funding opportunities

To support your innovation journey regardless of whether you are an SME, larger global company, research institute, university or come from the public sector, we at Vinnova are here to support your journey in some form. We can also connect you with other actors who can help you. Below are links to help you with

• matchmaking
• delegation trips
• information meetings about available funding during the year
• writing cottages (how to write and shape your applications)
• calls for proposals for funding innovation projects.

Match making

Find your innovation partner through matchmaking. Vinnova is working together with Ignite Sweden and KIAT/EEN on this.

EEN and Vinnova's partner in Korea KIATs's digital platform for matchmaking

Funding

Vinnova finances collaborative projects through the financing forms Eureka Eurostars and Eureka Kluster.

Eureka Eurostars, where you as a smaller company in the driver's seat together with other actors can finance your project with Korea.

Eureka Kluster projects are open to collaboration between large companies, SMEs, large companies, industry and academia. There must be at least two participating countries in a cluster project. The Swedish consortium must be industry-driven with a good balance between large companies, SMEs and academia/research institutes.

Support

You can get support in writing your proposal through Abbot Liljero's office. They organize, among other things, writers' cottages and information meetings.
EU SMEs Task calender 
EU SMEs other support and support services

Individual mobility

During 2023, there will be an opportunity for an AI competence to use individual mobility within AI between Sweden and Korea. 4 weeks to 6 months exchange to increase your AI skills. Please contact Kim Silvasti for questions about this.

Establishment support and monitoring of the environment

Since 1997, Business Sweden has had a local office in Seoul that can support your establishment in Korea. They also support the establishment of Korean actors in Sweden. Business Sweden's services include market analysis, strategic advice, partner search, and last but not least support in understanding and navigating the local business culture.

In this LinkedIn group for Swedish-Korean cooperationyou can find the latest world coverage and posts about Korea.

Innovation and Research Council Blog on Korea.

Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT).

AI Landscape in Korea

In just 60 years, Korea has gone from being an agricultural economy to one driven by industries such as automotive, shipbuilding and advanced manufacturing. Perhaps most notable of all is the country's success in the field of ICT (information and communication technology), where it has become a world leader in semiconductors, consumer electronics and ICT infrastructure.

Korea has set its sights on becoming one of the top three countries in the world for digital competitiveness by 2030 and sees artificial intelligence (AI) as the key to achieving this objective.
The country's advanced ICT infrastructure and the increasing digitization of its commercial, industrial and government processes combined ensure that Korea has the foundation to become a global leader in the world of AI.

Despite the fact that some companies postponed investments due to the pandemic, the Korean AI market grew more than 2.5 times in 2021. The market is expected to quadruple in size again between 2021 and 2025 to reach SEK 79 billion, all of which indicates great opportunities for Swedish companies with competitive AI solutions.

Although an increasing number of AI-powered solutions are commercialized, many large domestic actors are estimated to continue to look for third-party AI technology that can offer them a competitive advantage. To bridge this capability gap, the Korean government and large conglomerates are investing heavily in AI research and education.