The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 19th that innovative startups selected by the ‘Seoul AI Hub,’ a specialized support organization for AI startups, are now collaborating with Canada’s ‘MILA-QUEBEC ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE INSTITUTE’ to intensify their global outreach. MILA, one of Canada’s top three research institutes and established by Yoshua Bengio, a leading authority in deep learning, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Seoul AI Hub last June to bolster the technological prowess of domestic AI startups.

The seven startups selected have been engaging in a 15-week global joint research program called ‘Scientist-in-residence’ at MILA since June 3rd, aiming to enhance their technological competitiveness. Seoul AI Hub assists these startups by matching them with MILA researchers and supporting the establishment of local subsidiaries in Canada.

Meanwhile, eight Seoul-based AI startups participated in ‘Collision 2024,’ the largest tech conference in North America, held in Toronto, Canada from June 17 to 21. The conference was a platform to promote their AI capabilities, explore market opportunities, and seek investment in the North American market.

The conference attracted more than 40,000 visitors from around 130 countries, featuring over 2,000 startups and 300 partner companies. At this event, the ‘Seoul AI Hub’ took the opportunity to showcase Korea’s AI innovations and the technological capabilities of domestic companies, and to seek collaboration partners in the local market.

Park Seo-young, Director of Advanced Industries, commented, “Collaborating with MILA, recognized as one of the world’s foremost AI research institutes, will accelerate our companies’ development to achieve technological prowess that is competitive in the North American market. We are committed to continuously expanding our startup support programs to stay abreast of global AI technology and industry trends and to enhance interactions with major research institutions and industries.”