K-Innovation Paves the Way for U.S : UKIS in Atlanta

As the tariff trade war triggered by US President Trump is reaching its climax, the movement to break through the trade war with the "Korea-US technology alliance" is attracting attention.

The Korean Science and Technology Association (KSEA, Chairman Oh Tae-hwan) announced that it will hold the US-Korea Industry Showcase (UKIS) 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., on August 5~6.

UKIS, which will be introduced for the first time this year, is an industry platform to create practical business results in connection with the 'UKC 2025 (US-Korea Conference)' centered on academic exchange.

The event, which aims to be a bridge between Korea-US innovative technologies beyond a simple exhibition, will be held as a comprehensive industry expo that combines technology exhibitions, business meetings, corporate pitching, networking, investment forums, and showcases. Korean scientists in the United States can now actively support Korean innovative technology companies to enter and invest in the United States.

More than 30 Korean small and medium-sized companies, startups, and local governments are expected to participate and establish a bridgehead to enter the US market.

In particular, Atlanta, the venue of the event, is a strategically important location where major Korean technology companies such as Hyundai Motor Group, SK On, and Hanwha Q CELLS have made large-scale investments in North America. It is easily accessible from logistics, manufacturing, energy, and high-tech industries, and is regarded as the economic capital of the southeastern United States, where the headquarters of Fortune 500 companies such as Coca-Cola, Delta Air Lines, and Home Depot are located.

Against this backdrop, Atlanta is rapidly emerging as a global innovation city, and is attracting attention as a region with excellent conditions for Korean companies to enter and grow, such as a strong Korean community, a business-friendly policy environment, and the presence of various academic institutions.

UKIS 2025 will provide all-round support for Korean companies to enter the U.S. market through various programs.

industrial exhibitions in future core technologies such as AI, IoT, autonomous driving, smart home, bio/digital health, energy, robotics, and VR/AR will form the center of the event. Participating companies can introduce their technologies and business models in front of investors and industry stakeholders through business pitching and showcases, and get instant feedback.

Ryu Jae-hyun, President-elect of KSEA and Chairman of the UKIS2025 Organizing Committee, said, "UKIS is an expo designed to help innovative companies in Korea and the U.S. create tangible results in the global market at the junction of technology and industry."

He added, "We look forward to developing UKIS into a next-generation platform that connects industries and markets based on KSEA's long-standing trust and capabilities," adding, "It will be a meaningful opportunity for all companies that want to create social value through technology."

The biggest strength of UKIS 2025 is its synergy with the UKC (US-Korea Conference on Science, Technology and Entrepreneurship), which has been held annually in the United States.

UKC, which celebrates its 38th anniversary this year, is KSEA's flagship academic event, which began as a small symposium in 1987 and has grown to become the largest science-technology and industry convergence conference in North America, with more than 1,200 participants, 200 volunteers, and corporate and government participants per year.

Every year, UKC brings together hundreds of Korean scientists, engineers, and policy experts to run more than 20 conferences and forums in each technology field, including AI, biotechnology, semiconductors, aerospace, smart cities, environment, and energy. In particular, the National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), NASA, U.S. universities and research institutes, and global companies participated in the event, establishing itself as a platform that connects research, policy, and industry between the United States and South Korea with a focus on science and technology. It has also served as a bridge for Korean companies to demonstrate concepts (PoC) to the United States.

UKIS is significant in that it expands to industrial sites based on the technical and academic depth of UKC. Beyond simply introducing technology, companies can connect with actual researchers, policymakers, and investors, and explore global partnerships with U.S. market appability. In addition, in connection with the UKC's education program, SEED (Startup, Education, Entrepreneurship & Demo), it is expected to provide promising university research teams and startups with practical opportunities to start a business and enter the market.

Silicon Valley-based media startup 'The Miilk' will also support the UKIS 2025 Organizing Committee. The combination of The Miilk's ability to specialize in innovative technology trends in the U.S. and UKIS' industry network is expected to help Korean companies enter the U.S. market.

The two sides signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for strategic cooperation on April 28 and established a cooperation system for the successful operation of UKIS 2025, which will be held in Atlanta in August.

The Miilk will be in charge of planning technology-related panels and recruiting speakers at the event, producing promotional content before and after the event, and promoting the participating companies' media. The Miilk plans to join the 'Sponsor Forum' with major sponsors and global partners of UKIS to expand the scope of collaboration for program operations and industry connections in the United States.

"Through this partnership, we will continue to work together to ensure that UKIS 2025 is not just a one-time event, but a platform for systematic and continuous exchanges between the Korean and U.S. industrial ecosystems," the two organizations said.

"UKIS 2025 is a very meaningful platform in that it can be a practical gateway to the industrial ecosystem of the US market, not just a showcase of technologies," said Son Jae-kwon, CEO of The Miilk, adding, "We are happy to be a partner in this great event."

He continued, "Through this cooperation, we plan to maximize the capabilities of The Milk as a three-dimensional partner that supports content planning, global speaker connection, and field-oriented business matching, beyond a simple media partnership," and added, "We look forward to UKIS becoming a practical milestone for Korean companies to go global."