South Korea and Japan hold regional economic forum in Daegu on AI, robots and materials
In short
South Korea's Ministry of Industry and Trade said it held the 22nd Korea-Japan (Hokuriku) Economic Exchange Conference in Daegu on the 23rd. About 150 people from both countries attended, and discussions covered advanced materials, AI and robotics.
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South Korea's Ministry of Industry and Trade said it held the 22nd Korea-Japan (Hokuriku) Economic Exchange Conference in Daegu on the 23rd. Newsis and Yonhap said it was held together with the Chubu Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. Asia Economy named the Japanese ministry itself as the co-host. Yonhap said the venue was the Daegu Marriott Hotel. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
About 150 officials from governments, local governments, business groups, companies and research institutes of both countries attended. The theme was 'Beyond commemorating 60 years of diplomatic ties, toward action'. Yonhap said the meeting focused on practical cooperation, and Asia Economy said it aimed to seek concrete cooperation in future industries. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
On advanced materials, the talks covered technology cooperation linking manufacturing and research strengths. Gyeongbuk Technopark, Japan's Tsudakoma and the Kanazawa Institute of Technology's innovative composite materials R&D centre were to share, or shared, technology and research results on carbon fibre composites and discuss joint research and technology exchange. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
On AI and robots, the focus was on applying the technologies in industrial settings. Tilon, a cloud software company, presented a case of AI-based workplace innovation. Aiem Robotics, a robot automation solutions company, presented a smart factory case using autonomous robots. Newsis said companies from both countries discussed the possibility of new industrial cooperation with the Hokuriku region. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The two sides also exchanged policies for regional growth. Korea presented its AI and robot industry promotion, support for small firms going overseas and measures against regional depopulation. Japan presented policies on industrial clusters and wellbeing, according to Asia Economy and Newsis. Yonhap said both countries discussed industrial clusters and regional depopulation measures. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Asia Economy said the conference has been a channel for economic cooperation between regional governments and companies for 26 years since 2000, except during the COVID-19 period. Participants are Korea's Daegu, Ulsan, Gangwon and North Gyeongsang and Japan's three Hokuriku prefectures of Toyama, Ishikawa and Fukui, in trade, investment and industrial technology. Yonhap said the Chubu bureau is one of eight regional bureaus under Japan's economy and trade ministry and covers five central prefectures: Aichi, Gifu, Mie, Toyama and Ishikawa. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Bae Jun-hyung (배준형), the ministry's director general for trade cooperation, said cooperation between the two countries' regional governments and local companies is important for Korea-Japan economic cooperation to develop more broadly. He said the ministry would actively support connecting the strengths of regional industries and creating new growth opportunities in future industries. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The documents describe the meeting as a channel for cooperation between regional governments and companies, focused on joint research and technology exchange. They report no signed agreements, so concrete outcomes are not yet known.
Key facts
- The ministry said it held the 22nd Korea-Japan (Hokuriku) Economic Exchange Conference in Daegu on the 23rd, together with Japan's Chubu Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry. [ 2 , 3 ]
- About 150 officials from governments, local governments, business groups, companies and research institutes of both countries attended. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The theme was 'Beyond commemorating 60 years of diplomatic ties, toward action'. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- On carbon fibre composites, Gyeongbuk Technopark and Japan's Tsudakoma and the Kanazawa Institute of Technology composite materials R&D centre discussed joint research and technology exchange. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Korean companies Tilon (틸론) and Aiem Robotics (아이엠로보틱스) presented AI-based workplace and autonomous-robot smart factory cases. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Korea presented policies on AI and robot industry promotion, support for small firms going overseas and regional depopulation; Japan presented industrial cluster and wellbeing policies. [ 1 , 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The ministry held the 22nd Korea-Japan (Hokuriku) Economic Exchange Conference in Daegu on the 23rd, with about 150 attendees. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Gyeongbuk Technopark and Japanese partners discussed joint research and technology exchange on carbon fibre composites. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Tilon and Aiem Robotics presented AI-based workplace innovation and autonomous-robot smart factory cases. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Bae Jun-hyung, the ministry's director general for trade cooperation, said regional government and company cooperation is important and the ministry would actively support it. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the discussions produced any agreements or joint projects. The documents describe talks, presentations and plans to seek cooperation, and report no signed deals.
- Which Japanese body co-hosted the event. Document 1 names Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, while documents 2 and 3 name its Chubu Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry.