[StartupRecipe] APEC SME WEEK Showcases Korea’s Startup Innovation

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APEC SME WEEK Showcases Korea’s Startup Innovation

The 31st APEC Small and Medium Enterprises Ministerial Meeting (SMEMM), an annual gathering to discuss issues concerning SMEs and startups within the APEC region, and APEC SME Week were held in Jeju from September 1-5, 2025. The event served as a sectoral ministerial meeting ahead of the APEC Summit to be convened in Gyeongju this October. It provided a significant platform to showcase South Korea’s dynamic startup ecosystem, with a variety of representative events highlighting the country’s innovative spirit and its role in fostering regional collaboration.

The event’s highlights included the Global Startup Day in Jeju, the Climate Tech Startup Summit, and a number of other notable events. The Global Startup Day was designed to promote innovative, sustainable, and inclusive growth within the startup and venture scene. It brought together three major programs, including the K-Startup Challenge Kick-off, which selected 225 finalists from 7,377 participating teams; the K-Startup Grand Challenge Showcase, which gathered 40 overseas startups, alumni companies, and domestic investors for IR pitches and a unique Reverse IR Session as well as the Global Venture Investment Summit, which convened over 70 global institutions to discuss investment outlooks and expand the worldwide venture investment network. In addition, the Climate Tech Startup Summit, held from September 4-6, explored solutions to the climate crisis by integrating AI and climate technology, with in-depth discussions on global trends, capital flow, and policies supporting climate tech startups. Other notable events included a K-Shopping Festa Opening Ceremony to support microbusinesses and various forums focused on technology innovation, such as the Korea SME Innovative Show and the Innovation Network Forum for SMEs.

The meeting culminated in the adoption of the Jeju Initiative, a significant achievement that further cements Korea’s leadership role in the APEC region. The initiative outlines the launch of the APEC Startup Alliance, which includes concrete action plans for a regular forum and online information sharing to strengthen collaboration across member economies.

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