Creating synergies between European and Korean Semiconductors Enterprises

From 9 to 13 February 2026, 44 selected EU SMEs and start-ups participated in the EU Business Hub Semiconductors Korea 2026 business mission in Seoul, Republic of Korea. EU companies had the opportunity to showcase their products and services in the semiconductor sector, while also benefiting from valuable market intelligence information, networking opportunities and direct connections with potential Korean business partners and industry leaders.

Welcome to the Republic of Korea: new connections and exciting opportunities
Semiconductors Korea 2026 kicked off with a Welcome and Networking Gathering where EU companies met and connected with fellow participants from across the European semiconductor industry, their personal coaches and the EU Business Hub team that accompanied them during the week. The group of EU participants represented a wide range of semiconductors subsectors: such as software, AI, LoT and mobility; advanced electronics, test and packaging; chip design and manufacturing; and semiconductor materials and equipment.

On the second day, the programme continued with a briefing session dedicated to market intelligence and ecosystem insights where they learned about the Korean semiconductor industry, the Daegu-Gyungbuk Free Economic Zone (DGFEZ), and the Korea Electronics Packaging and Circuits Association (KPCA). Through expert presentations and first-hand exposure to the local landscape, EU participants gained practical knowledge of the value chain, innovation priorities, and collaboration models aligned with their technologies and business objectives. These insights helped participants refine how they position their solutions and prepare for upcoming B2B meetings with Korean partners.

As part of the programme, participants also visited SurplusGLOBAL, a KOSDAQ-listed company specialising in secondary semiconductor equipment and semiconductor facility leasing. The visit included a company presentation followed by a guided tour of the facilities, providing first-hand insight into refurbishment, trading, and distribution processes for semiconductor manufacturing equipment. The tour covered multiple facilities, including cleanrooms and inventory areas. Many EU participants continued the engagement by visiting the SurplusGLOBAL booth at SEMICON Korea.

Kick-start at Semiconductors Korea 2026!
During the third day, EU participants exhibited at the Sono Felice Convention Centre, presenting their innovations to the Korean visitors. Thanks to the work of the EU Business Hub matchmaking team, European companies had pre-arranged meetings with carefully selected Korean enterprises across the semiconductor value chain. Beyond the pre-arranged meetings, the EU exhibitors had spontaneous meetings with local walk-in visitors as well as some self-arranged meetings that the companies organised themselves with potential customers and stakeholders.

The day also featured a Business Networking Reception, which opened with remarks by H.E. Ugo Astuto, EU Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, followed by congratulatory remarks from Mr. Young-woo Ahn, Secretary-General of the Korea Electronics Packaging and Circuits Association (KPCA), underscoring the strong institutional and industry support for EU–Korea cooperation in the semiconductor sector.

Day four of Semiconductors Korea 2026 focused on refining and advancing the discussions initiated earlier in the week, while providing EU participants with additional opportunities to engage with Korean organisations. Building on earlier meetings, EU SMEs and start-ups collaborated with their Korean counterparts to validate use cases, align technical requirements, and explore potential cooperation models, ranging from pilot projects and joint development to supplier and distribution partnerships.

During the last day of the business mission, our EU delegation visited SEMICON Korea, one of the world’s leading international semiconductor exhibitions, where they were able to meet key stakeholders and follow-up previously started conversations. This visit marked the culmination of five days of intensive engagement between European SMEs and start-ups  and the Korean semiconductor ecosystem.

Thanks to expert interpreters, booth support, and the B2B matchmaking provided by the programme, our participants held over 520 meetings with local counterparts, offering EU companies extensive opportunities to connect with relevant stakeholders and boost their market prospects.
 

Looking Ahead: Keep up with the EU Business Hub!
Following the success of the EU Business Hub @ Semicon Japan 2025 and Semiconductors Korea 2026 editions, the EU Business Hub is organising the following business missions in the digital solutions and semiconductors sectors:

EU Business Hub @ Korea Electronics Show 2026, from 12 – 16 October, in Seoul (Republic of Korea). Deadline for application: 12 June 2026

EU Business Hub @ Semicon Japan 2026, from 7 – 11 December, in Tokyo (Japan). Deadline for application: 11 September 2026

Check out the full business mission catalogue and subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest programme updates. 

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EU Business Hub – Japan and the Republic of Korea is an EU-funded programme launched in 2024 to support EU SMEs and start-ups in the Green and Low-Carbon, Digital, Healthcare and Medical Equipment sectors in expanding into the Japanese and Korean markets. Between 2024 and 2027, the programme is organising 20 sector-focused business missions – 10 in each market – with services including strategic coaching, matchmaking, local interpretation, and full logistical support. The EU Business Hub is the successor programme of the EU Business Avenues / EU Gateway to Japan.