The Ministry of SMEs and Startups hosted the ‘AroundX Open Innovation Seminar’ on December 12 at COEX in Seoul during the Comeup 2025 festival. Global companies and startups participating in the AroundX program gathered to celebrate achievements from the past year and preview their 2026 roadmap.

AroundX connects Korean startups with leading global corporations through a government-backed open innovation platform designed to accelerate technological advancement and international expansion. The program launched in 2019 with a single partner, Google Play, and has since blossomed into a comprehensive ecosystem that has supported over 1,600 startups across seven years.

The program partners with 13 global companies: Google Play, NVIDIA, Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, Dassault Systèmes, ANSYS, Siemens, Oracle, IBM, Intel, L’Oréal, Thales, and Air Liquide.

Six startups took the stage during the first session to share how corporate partnerships propelled their technological advancement and global expansion. Sujib, iPin Labs, Colosseum Corporation, NDotLight, Circulus, and Wellmatics demonstrated how collaboration with global enterprises helped them refine their technologies and penetrate international markets.

The second session unveiled plans to expand the program with four major new partners in 2026: Mercedes-Benz, representing Germany’s premium mobility sector; Astellas, a global biopharmaceutical leader; OpenAI, the world’s foremost generative AI company; and HP, the world’s largest PC and printing corporation.

This expansion brings the total to 17 global partners for 2026. Mercedes-Benz Korea formalized its commitment at the event by signing a memorandum of understanding with KISED (Korea Institute of Startup & Entrepreneurship Development) to launch the AroundX Global Company Collaboration Program.

Yong-seok Noh, First Vice Minister of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, highlighted the program’s trajectory during his keynote. “As new global companies join as partners, AroundX will evolve into a leading global open innovation platform representing Korea,” he said. “The Ministry will continue providing unwavering support to enable exceptional startups to collaborate with global companies and drive innovation together.”

The AroundX expansion reflects Korea’s strategy to cement its position as a global innovation hub. Growing from one partner in 2019 to 17 by 2026 demonstrates rising international confidence in Korea’s startup ecosystem and its capacity to produce globally competitive technologies.

OpenAI’s addition signals particular interest in Korea’s AI capabilities, while Mercedes-Benz opens opportunities in mobility and automotive technology. Astellas brings life sciences and biotechnology expertise, and HP provides access to enterprise computing and digital infrastructure markets.

These partnerships deliver more than capital for Korean startups—they provide access to global distribution networks, technical expertise, and validation that accelerates international growth. AroundX has become a crucial bridge between Korea’s innovative startup ecosystem and the resources of established multinational corporations.

The seminar took place during Comeup 2025, Korea’s largest global startup festival, which ran December 10-12 at COEX. The festival brought together 275 startups from 46 countries, over 100 global investors, and 35 major corporations for conferences, exhibitions, and business matchmaking under the theme “Recode the Future.”