Korean and French business and institutional representatives will gather at COEX in Seoul on October 16 to discuss industrial applications of artificial intelligence and cooperation in green technology. The French-Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI) said it will jointly host the France-Korea Tech Summit 2026 with the Korea Electronics Association (KEA) from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Held alongside the Korea Electronics Show (KES), the summit is free for participants who register in advance.
Under the theme “AI & Greentech: Shaping the Next Era of Innovation,” the summit will feature two panel discussions on implementing AI transformation and building a sustainable industrial ecosystem. A pitch contest will also showcase eight Korean and French technology companies. The event is open to technology professionals, manufacturers, startups and venture capital representatives.
Lee Ji-hyung, CEO of Invest Seoul, will open the summit with a keynote on Seoul’s AI turning point and a new chapter in French-Korean innovation. The first session, “AI as a Core Driver of Corporate Strategy,” will examine how companies can translate AI capabilities into business results and corporate value. Lee Jang-hyuk, a professor at Korea University Business School and CEO of AligoAI, will moderate a panel featuring Arthur Barichard, director of France’s Digital and AI Council; Choi Kyung-il, CEO of KT SAT; and Jang Moon-seok, head of the AX Innovation Center at Seoul AI Hub and an industry-academia cooperation professor at Seoul National University.
The second session, “Technology for a Sustainable Future,” will explore cooperation in new materials, smart energy systems and more efficient industrial processes. Kim Yeon-ji, a specialist with the Green Climate Fund’s Independent Evaluation Unit, will moderate the discussion. Panelists include Hervé Peneau, CEO of Veolia Korea; Corine Versini, CEO of GenesInk; and Park Ki-jun, head of the AI Research Institute at KEPCO Research Institute.
Beginning at 2 p.m., the pitch contest will give eight Korean and French deep-tech companies an opportunity to present their technologies and business models. Participants are FirstLab, GenesInk, ID4US, Langcode, Nest, Thelios, T-HIVE and Voltify. Their presentations will outline potential applications and business development plans.
A French Pavilion linked to the summit will operate at booth A290 in COEX Hall A from October 13 to 16. GenesInk, ID4US, Thelios, T-HIVE and Voltify will showcase technologies spanning advanced electronic components, ultrasonic fingerprint recognition, nanoscale thermal measurement, industrial quality inspection and battery-powered freight rail. The companies will also hold one-to-one business meetings with Korean companies and buyers.
JCDecaux, Asiance, Invest Seoul, Forvis Mazars, IT-Concept and Veolia are participating as official partners and sponsors. Founded in 1986, FKCCI supports business cooperation and market entry between Korean and French companies through a membership network of more than 475 companies.
