500 South Korean and Japanese Companies Accelerate Cooperation in AI-Based Robotics, Semiconductors, and Energy

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\r\n[Financial News] As economic cooperation between South Korea and Japan expands, about 500 companies from the two countries gathered to address shared challenges such as implementing bilateral economic cooperation, economic security, and aging societies.
A total of 75 South Korean companies and more than 420 Japanese companies took part in the bilateral AI cooperation forum, one-on-one matchmaking sessions in the robotics and power sectors, and semiconductor investment attraction programs. Participants focused on issues related to exports, investment, technology, and supply chain cooperation, underscoring the significance of the event.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and KOTRA said on the 27th that they held the '2026 Korea-Japan Business Plaza' at The Prince Park Tower Tokyo in Japan to promote integrated cooperation in trade, investment and technology exchange.
During the event, the 'AI Frontier Korea in Japan' session brought together 42 South Korean AI technology companies. They held one-on-one export and investment consultations, technology demonstrations, startup pitches, and a semiconductor cooperation forum for major Japanese companies such as NEC, Mizuho and SoftBank Group Corp., as well as seven local governments and venture capital and corporate venture capital firms.
Companies from both countries showed strong interest in solving economic security issues such as population decline, aging, and supply chain disruptions by using physical AI, medical and healthcare solutions, and generative AI.
As a result, six technology cooperation deals were reached on site. RaumSoft, an AI facial recognition company, signed a memorandum of understanding on technology cooperation with DEA, a Japanese game company focused on solving social issues.
Four AI semiconductor fabless companies that took part in the 'AI Semiconductor Forum' — Rebellions, FuriosaAI, DEEPX and HyperExcel — showcased next-generation AI semiconductor technologies. An attendee from a Japanese investment firm said, "It was an opportunity to confirm the technological strength of South Korea's AI semiconductor industry. I hope we can continue investment and cooperation discussions with the Korean companies we met this time."
At 'Global Partnering Japan,' which supports entry into supply chains tailored to the needs of major Japanese companies, 33 South Korean firms in the robotics, machinery parts and modules, and power and energy equipment sectors took part. They held export consultations with major Japanese companies and more than 90 vendors, including TEPCO, JERA, Yamato Transport and Ebara Corporation, to help them enter Japan's manufacturing supply chain.
Ioneus, which produces battery packs for energy storage systems, signed a three-year supply contract worth $3 million with SHINDEN HIGHTEX CORPORATION, a Japanese power equipment vendor. In total, three export deals worth $4.1 million were concluded on site.
The 'Semiconductor Investment Attraction IR' session also targeted more than 100 semiconductor materials, parts and equipment companies, including Tekscend Photomask, a semiconductor photomask maker that reported new investment of 120 billion won last month, and Mitsui Chemicals, the global market leader in semiconductor wafer tape.
Kang Kyung-sung, president and CEO of KOTRA, said, "South Korea and Japan are both global industrial powerhouses. In particular, South Korea is highly competitive in advanced ICT, while Japan has strong capabilities in semiconductor materials, parts and equipment, so there is great room for cooperation between the two countries." He added, "We will do our utmost to expand the current momentum in bilateral economic cooperation into business partnerships between companies, and to support efforts to enhance industrial competitiveness and address shared challenges such as economic security and aging societies."
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hjkim01@fnnews.com Kim Hak-jae Reporter