Support programs for domestic startups by global companies are expanding. With 17 global companies, including Nvidia, Google Play, and Mercedes-Benz, participating, the program is expected to bolster the overseas expansion of technology-based startups.
At the "AroundX Open Innovation Seminar" held at COEX in Seoul on December 12, 2025, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) announced the list of global companies participating in the program starting next year. AroundX is a support program in which the government and leading overseas companies collaborate to help domestic startups enter the global market. The program began in 2019 with a partnership with Google Play and has steadily expanded since then.
Up until this year, a total of 13 companies, including NVIDIA, Microsoft, and Oracle, have participated. Starting in 2026, four new companiesโMercedes-Benz, Astellas, OpenAI, and HPโwill join, bringing the total number of participating companies to 17. These companies possess innovative technologies and infrastructure in their respective industries, raising expectations that they will be able to foster practical collaboration through joint projects or technology linkages with domestic startups.
In particular, the newly participating companies represent a diverse range of industries, including mobility, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and PC hardware, which is expected to enable broader support than before. For example, OpenAI, a leading player in generative artificial intelligence (AI), could support startups in developing AI applications, while pharmaceutical companies like Astellas could lead joint research with biohealth startups.
The government's strategy is to provide domestic startups with opportunities to move beyond simple technology development and pursue practical commercialization in the global market. First Vice Minister of SMEs and Startups Noh Yong-seok stated, "We will strengthen policy support to enable outstanding startups to collaborate with global companies and pave the way for joint innovation."
As this type of global open collaboration expands, the competitiveness of the domestic startup ecosystem is expected to further strengthen. Going forward, it's likely that practical cooperation, such as technology linkages, market development, and joint development, will become more important than simple financial support.
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