Semiconductors Korea 2026

Thanks to Semiconductors Korea 2026, 50 European SMEs, including start-ups, will visit the Republic of Korea and kick-start their internationalisation path in the semiconductors industry.

This business mission presents a unique opportunity for EU SMEs to establish valuable contacts, showcase their solutions, build long-lasting relationships with Korean enterprises and explore new business avenues together. The EU Business Hub provides market insights, matchmaking services, financial and tailored support to companies.
 

Target audience 

European SMEs, including start-ups and innovative enterprises, active in the semiconductor industry or related sectors, such as:

• Sustainable semiconductor manufacturing technologies.
• Advanced semiconductor design and fabrication processes.
• Semiconductor materials and equipment (e.g. wafer production, photomasks, etching, testing, etc.).
• Advanced packaging and integration solutions.
• Semiconductor-related software and AI-based applications.
• Emerging technologies including quantum computing, power electronics and smart mobility.
   

Business operators in the Republic of Korea, especially:

• Buyers and distributors of semiconductor equipment and materials.
• R&D institutions and partners (both public and private).
• Investors with interest in next-generation semiconductor technologies.
   

Overview of the business mission

The business mission to Seoul will last five days in total, including three days of dedicated business matchmaking and networking, a visit to SEMICON Korea for further business opportunities, as well as a study tour.

The business mission agenda is as follows:

• Day 1: Arrival in Seoul, welcome & networking reception.
• Day 2: Briefing session with sectoral experts and a study tour.
• Day 3: Business matchmaking sessions. 
• Day 4: Business matchmaking sessions and networking at Semicon Korea.
• Day 5: Last day of business matchmaking sessions and a debriefing session.
   

Services/benefits the EU participants will be receiving

• Business matchmaking resulting in pre-arranged in-person meetings with carefully selected enterprises in the Republic of Korea.
• Market intelligence information including sectoral briefings providing valuable insights on market structure and potential opportunities.
• Cultural and linguistic support such as briefings on doing business in Korea and support for interpretation and translation.
• Financial support up to €1000 to benefit from a menu of additional customised services co-funded by the project (e.g. translation, printing, legal advice, booth decoration).
• Hotel accommodation for four nights – in total, up to €1000 for accommodation is covered by the programme.
• Coverage of the visitor fee for SEMICON Korea. 
   

Key market insights

Participating to Semiconductors Korea 2026 represents a unique opportunity for European SMEs and start-ups because:

• The Republic of Korea is Asia’s 4^th and the World’s 12economy.¹
• EU exports to the Republic of Korea in 2023 amounted to €57.8 billion in goods and €18.7 billion in services.²
• The Republic of Korea represents the EU’s 8^th largest trading partner for goods.³
• The Republic of Korea recorded an all-time monthly high in semiconductor exports in April 2024, reaching approximately €12.5 billion, with a 50.9% year-on-year increase and marking eight consecutive months of growth.⁴ 
• The Republic of Korea ranked as the world’s second-largest semiconductor producer in 2023, maintaining this position for the 11th consecutive year since 2013, with a 13.2% share of the €506.9 billion global semiconductor market.⁵ 
• 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.⁶
• The Republic of Korea unveiled a €18.6 billion support package for the semiconductor industry, including €3.6 billion investment from 2025 to 2027 focused on R&D, commercialisation and workforce development.⁷ 
   

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¹Source: Trade Fact File 2024 EU-Korea Trade and Investment Relations, European Union. (Internal document)
²Source: Trade Fact File 2024 EU-Korea Trade and Investment Relations, European Union. (Internal document)
³Source: EU trade relations with South Korea, European Commission

⁴Source: Exports See Growth for 7th Consecutive Month in April, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE)
⁵Source: Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Korea, Invest Korea
⁶Source: The Fifth Science and Technology Master Plan, Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT)
⁷Source: Semiconductor Ecosystem Support Package, Ministry of Economy and Finance (MOEF)