IT Park Uzbekistan and KISED Discuss Expanding Startup Cooperation Between Uzbekistan and Korea

The parties discussed prospects for cooperation in developing startup ecosystems, supporting the international scaling of technology companies, and strengthening ties between entrepreneurs from Uzbekistan and the Republic of Korea.

KISED is a public institution under the Ministry of SMEs and Startups of the Republic of Korea that implements national programs supporting entrepreneurship and technology startups. The institute supports companies at various stages of development, from entrepreneurship education and business launch to acceleration, commercialization, investment attraction, and expansion into international markets.

During the meeting, the parties considered the possibility of creating a joint startup exchange and soft landing program for Uzbek companies interested in entering the Korean market and Korean startups considering Uzbekistan and Central Asia. The program could include market-entry consulting, mentoring support, identification of local partners, and B2B meetings.

Particular attention was paid to the potential participation of promising IT Park Uzbekistan startup members in international programs supported by KISED, including the K-Startup Grand Challenge, Global Market Expansion Program, and K-Startup Centers, as well as exhibition and business matching initiatives.

The parties also discussed the possibility of holding an Uzbekistan–Korea Startup Forum in 2027 with the participation of startups, investors, accelerators, and corporate partners from both countries. They additionally considered organizing reciprocal business missions to Uzbekistan and the Republic of Korea, including B2B meetings, investment sessions, visits to technology companies, and market-entry activities.

Another area of discussion was the exchange of experience in startup ecosystem development. The parties considered organizing workshops and educational programs for employees of IT Park Uzbekistan and the Ministry of Digital Technologies focused on Korea’s startup support mechanisms, technology commercialization, corporate open innovation models, and the development of innovation infrastructure.

In addition, the parties discussed leveraging KISED’s network to support Uzbek startups in establishing connections with Korean venture funds, investors, corporations, and other participants in the technology ecosystem.

Following the meeting, the parties identified areas for further development of practical cooperation formats aimed at expanding access for startups from both countries to new markets, investment, and international partnerships.