President Lee Jae Myung Calls for Expanded Korea-France R&D and Investment: “Working Together Can Shorten Development Timelines”

【Financial News, Paris, France—Reporter Seong Seok-woo】On the 8th local time, President Lee Jae Myung met with Korean and French business leaders and called for expanded joint research and development (R&D) and investment in future strategic industries, including artificial intelligence (AI), quantum technology, mobility, energy and biotechnology.
Kang Yoo-jung, a senior spokesperson for Cheong Wa Dae, said in a written briefing that President Lee attended a Korea-France business roundtable and discussed practical ways to cooperate with leading companies from both countries amid the advanced technology revolution and the restructuring of global supply chains.
The event was jointly organized by the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) and MEDEF to coincide with President Lee’s state visit to France. About 30 people, including leading business executives and senior government officials, attended in the presence of the leaders of both countries.
In the AI sector, participants discussed pursuing strategic investment cooperation between Samsung Electronics and French AI startup Mistral AI. NAVER and Mistral AI explored ways to enter global markets together based on a partnership aimed at capturing the sovereign AI market.
In the quantum sector, participants discussed a cooperation model combining French quantum-computing company Quandela’s core technologies with South Korea’s advanced manufacturing capabilities, including semiconductors, and AI infrastructure. In the energy sector, they discussed supply-chain cooperation that would leverage LS and Hyosung’s advanced power-equipment capabilities in conjunction with France’s modernization of its power grid.
Hyundai Motor said it expected to expand cooperation with French companies in the hydrogen industry ecosystem and AI and manufacturing innovation. LG Electronics also expressed expectations of broader cooperation in mobility and AI, as well as in eco-friendly technologies such as high-efficiency home appliances and heat pumps.
In the beauty sector, participants shared plans to combine L’Oréal’s global brand capabilities with Cosmax’s product-development expertise. In biotechnology, they discussed combining South Korea’s biosimilar technology with France’s healthcare capabilities, drawing on Celltrion’s acquisition of French healthcare company Gifrer.
After hearing the business leaders’ views, President Lee said, "If the two countries jointly pursue R&D and large-scale investment in new fields, we can shorten development timelines and improve investment efficiency compared with pursuing these efforts separately."
He also emphasized that culture and the arts, in addition to advanced industries, have significant potential to grow into new industries. By combining their respective strengths, he said, the two countries can create new markets and opportunities together.
President Lee said he hoped practical cooperation between the two governments, including R&D, would expand further alongside cooperation between companies.
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