Ulsan Opens the Stage for AI Manufacturing Innovation... '2025 Startup Festa' Kicks Off
Published 31 Oct.2025 08:52(KST)
November 3-4, Ulsan Startup Hub at Jongha Innovation Center
18 Startup Programs and Events Including Outstanding Startup Selection
The city of Ulsan will host the "2025 Ulsan Startup Festa" at the Jongha Innovation Center on November 3 and 4.
Now in its sixth year, this event is co-hosted by the Ulsan Metropolitan Government and the Ulsan Regional Office of SMEs and Startups, and co-organized by 15 local startup support organizations including the Ulsan Center for Creative Economy and Innovation.
This year’s event will be held at the Ulsan Startup Hub, a regional innovation startup base that opened in the Jongha Innovation Center in February, drawing significant anticipation and interest.
The event’s slogan is "Connect: Innovation through AI & AX," aiming to strengthen the local startup ecosystem and accelerate industrial transformation in Ulsan, the city positioning itself as the capital of artificial intelligence.
During the event, a variety of programs will be held under the themes of "Regional Ecosystem Collaboration, Open Innovation + Tech Biz, Expansion of the Investment Ecosystem, and Strengthening International Networks."
Key programs include the selection of outstanding startups (USF TOP7), a trend conference, a public startup investment forum, an open innovation roundtable, and a total of 18 different programs.
Notably, this year will feature the newly launched USF Foreign Startup Competition. Linked to the government’s foreign entrepreneur visa and settlement support policies, this competition is expected to promote the settlement and business development of outstanding foreign startup teams in Korea, and serve as a stepping stone for Ulsan to become a global startup hub.
Additionally, there will be a flea market, a startup profile studio, and promotional booths (from 12 organizations and 17 companies), providing a one-stop opportunity to access information about promising local startups and startup support.
The opening ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. on the first day, November 3.
Hanbin Lee, CEO of Seoul Robotics, will deliver a keynote speech on "The Future Robots Will Bring in the Age of AI."
This will be followed by a talk show on the future of technological innovation and the startup ecosystem, moderated by Professor Namhoon Kim of Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), with panelists including Hanbin Lee, CEO of Seoul Robotics; Minshik Cho, Vice Chairman of Bespin Global; and Sunghwa Yoo, Team Leader at UD Impact.
Information about the event can be found on the official website, and various other events will also be held.
An official from Ulsan City stated, "We hope that through the Ulsan Startup Festa, which offers networking and collaboration opportunities among startups, companies, and investors nationwide, Ulsan can seek out diverse business opportunities and further advance as a manufacturing AI startup city."
This year’s Ulsan Startup Festa will not be limited to a two-day event but will be expanded into a "Startup Week."
On November 5, the Ulsan Youth Support Center will host the "Ulsan Youth Talk Concert," and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries will hold the "2025 HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Open Innovation Networking" event. On the weekend, the Miraewa Software Foundation will organize the "Dream-Finding Camp" for elementary and middle school students.
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