EU Business Hub @ KES 2026

EU Business Hub @ KES 2026 will select up to 50 European SMEs and start-ups to visit the Republic of Korea (RoK) to kick-start their internationalisation path in the digital sector. Selected companies will showcase their products and services at the EU Pavilion at the KES 2026 exhibition, a major international exhibition attracting more than 70 000 visitors and 530 exhibitors.

The business mission will take place from 12 to 16 October 2026 and provides an excellent opportunity for networking and connecting with potential Korean business partners and industry leaders. At the EU Pavilion, a dedicated team of business coaching staff and professional interpreters will be available to promote each European company’s products and technologies, assuring maximum exposure to exhibition visitors. A networking event during the business mission will also increase the opportunities to connect with potential business partners and clients.
 

Target audience

European SMEs, including start-ups and innovative enterprises, active in the digital industry or related sectors, across all parts of the value chain, such as:

• AX (AI transformation)
• Electronic parts and materials
• Advanced Mobility
• Robotics
• WEB 3.0/XR

Business operators in the RoK, especially:

• Buyers and distributors of electronics products
• R&D institutions and partners (both public and private)
• Investors with interest in advanced electronic equipment
   

Overview of the business mission

The business mission to Seoul will last five days in total, including four days of dedicated business matchmaking and networking at KES 2026, a business networking reception, a study tour, and many more activities.

The business mission agenda is as follows:

• Day 1: Arrival in Seoul, welcome & networking gathering and briefing session.
• Day 2: Exhibition at KES 2026 and business matchmaking sessions and business networking reception.
• Day 3: Exhibition at KES 2026 and business matchmaking sessions.
• Day 4: Exhibition at KES 2026 and business matchmaking sessions.
• Day 5: Last exhibition day at KES 2026 and business matchmaking sessions and debriefing session.
   

In addition to the programme’s activities, the participants will have the opportunity to attend additional events directly organised by KES trade fair organisers.
 

Services and benefits for EU participants

• Business matchmaking resulting in pre-arranged in-person meetings with carefully selected enterprises in the RoK.
• Market intelligence including sectoral briefings providing valuable insights on market structure and potential opportunities.
• Cultural and linguistic support such as briefings on doing business in RoK and support for interpretation and translation.
• Financial support for additional customised services co-funded by the project (e.g. translation, printing, legal advice, booth decoration covered for 80% and up to €1,000).
• Hotel accommodation for four nights – in total, up to €1,000 for accommodation is covered by the programme (1 room/company for 4 nights)
• Coverage of the exhibitor fee at KES 2026 
   

Key market insights

Participating to the EU Business Hub @ KES 2026 represents a unique opportunity for European SMEs and start-ups: 

• The RoK is Asia’s 4th and the World’s 13th largest economy.¹
• EU exports to the RoK in 2024 amounted to €55.7 billion in goods.²  
• The RoK represents the EU’s 8th largest trading partner for goods.³
• The RoK stands at the technological forefront of the global economy, driven by an impressive R&D expenditure totaling 4.9% of its GDP.⁴
• The Ministry of Science and ICT listed 12 National Strategic Technologies as strategic areas in its Science and Technology Master Plan (2023- 2027) including semiconductor and display, secondary battery, advanced mobility, hydrogen, cybersecurity, AI, etc.⁵
• Negotiations for a Digital Trade Agreement (launched in late 2023) are expected to further reduce barriers for European tech start-ups in 2026. The agreement establishes a binding framework for seamless data flows and regulatory certainty. By eliminating data localisation requirements and technical barriers, it provides EU IT firms with a secure, high-standard foundation for scaling operations into the Korean market.
   

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^{1.Source: EU trade relations with South Korea, European Commission}

^{2.Source: EU trade relations with South Korea, European Commission}

^{3.Source: EU trade relations with South Korea, European Commission}

^{4.Source: EU trade relations with South Korea, European Commission}

^{5.Source: The Fifth Science and Technology Master Plan, Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT)}