"AI and ICT Achievements: From Exhibition to Investment"… 'Technology Commercialization Festival' to Be Held at COEX

Ministry of Science and ICT to Hold ITRC Talent Development Expo in Parallel
Connecting the Full Cycle: R&D, Commercialization, and Talent Development

The government is launching a “full-cycle platform” that connects artificial intelligence (AI) and information and communication technology (ICT) research and development (R&D) achievements to real-world commercialization, while also fostering master's and doctoral-level talent. The initiative aims to go beyond simply exhibiting technology by creating a structure that leads into investment consultations and standardization support, thereby accelerating the industrial diffusion of research outcomes.

The Ministry of Science and ICT announced that it will simultaneously host the “2026 ICT Technology Commercialization Festival” and the “2026 ITRC Talent Development Expo” at COEX in Seoul from April 22 to 24, 2026. Both events will be held in conjunction with the World IT Show, the largest ICT exhibition in Korea.

ITRC Talent Development Expo 2026 Poster. Provided by the Ministry of Science and ICT

This year’s event focuses on establishing a full-cycle support system for government R&D outcomes—connecting exhibition, briefing sessions, standardization consulting, and investment matchmaking—while also sharing results from university research center-led talent development initiatives.

Drones, Disaster Broadcasting, Ship Communications: Promising Technologies for Commercialization Gathered in One Place

The “ICT Technology Commercialization Festival” will feature 38 companies and institutions, showcasing technologies in public safety, robotics, future mobility, defense, and medical AI, among other fields.

Notably, Konan Technology will present an AI-based defense drone operation system; EQ4ALL will introduce technology that converts disaster broadcasts into sign language; and Sunny Wave Tech will exhibit a real-time safety management monitoring system for ships.

In particular, the event will support scaling up promising technologies through one-on-one investment consultations in cooperation with Korea Technology Finance Corporation and venture capital firms. Joint business opportunities will also be explored through business meetings with the three major mobile carriers.

Additionally, the ICT Standardization Forum will offer consulting on the application of standards in the product and service development process and help address testing and certification issues. The forum will also discuss strategies for the technology transfer and commercialization of technologies held by research institutes.

Showcasing Graduate Research Achievements: “Discovering Core Talent for the AI Era”

Running in parallel, the “ITRC Talent Development Expo” brings together 81 research centers from 38 universities nationwide to exhibit and share research achievements from master’s and doctoral programs.

Ten themed exhibition halls—including those focused on semiconductors and displays, AI and big data, bio and healthcare, next-generation communications, and quantum technology—will be operated, as well as a special exhibition hall. Students will present and explain their research directly.

In the special exhibition hall, visitors can experience the latest technologies such as micro aerial vehicle tracking and avoidance control, drone-based augmented reality (AR) applications, and AI voice security solutions.

The event will also feature lectures by ICT experts, roundtable discussions among principal investigators, and interactive events, making it a comprehensive festival that connects technology, talent, and industry.

Lee Dokyu, policy chief at the Ministry of Science and ICT, stated, “Government R&D outcomes must lead to commercialization if they are to make an impact across the industry. We will strengthen policy support to foster both technology and talent, aiming to become one of the world’s top three AI powerhouses.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.