[StartupRecipe] Korea and India Strengthen Startup Ties: Here’s Why

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Korea and India Strengthen Startup Ties: Here’s Why

In a strategic effort to tackle talent shortages and explore global growth opportunities, South Korea is deepening its collaboration with India to accelerate the development of both countries’ startup ecosystems. This initiative is being led by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS), which recently unveiled a series of expanded efforts to enhance bilateral cooperation.

At the heart of this partnership is the International Software Developer Recruitment Program, which is entering its second year in 2025 with a broader scope. Originally launched in 2024, the program has already proven successful—41 Korean startups hired 206 Indian software developers selected from a pool of 358 applicants.

Building on this momentum, MSS announced on April 2 that applications for the 2025 edition of the program will open on April 3. Talent matching will continue throughout the year. To strengthen local operations, Korea will double its offices in India from two to four, adding Pune and Hyderabad to the existing locations in Noida (New Delhi) and Bengaluru. This expansion is expected to grow the accessible talent pool from 15,000 to 30,000 developers.

The significance of these efforts was underscored by a visit to New Delhi by an MSS delegation on April 3, led by CHO Kyung-won, Director General for Startup Policy. During the visit, the delegation held key meetings with Indian government bodies including the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and the National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC), aimed at reinforcing bilateral collaboration.

These discussions centered on three main themes: government policy exchange, startup ecosystem networking, and talent acquisition strategies. Notably, the talks with DPIIT included plans for an Indian national pavilion at COMEUP 2025, enhanced startup exchange programs, and broader Indian participation in Korea’s Grand Challenge initiative.

Beyond talent recruitment, the partnership also aims to open new avenues in market access and technology collaboration. During talks with NSIC, both sides explored how Korean startups could benefit from India’s SME support programs and gain a foothold in the Indian market. As a lead organization behind India’s ‘Make in India’ initiative, NSIC’s involvement signals potential manufacturing and innovation collaborations between the two countries.

The role of education is also central to the partnership. The MSS delegation visited the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi), one of India’s top engineering schools, to discuss strategies for recruiting elite software talent. Graduates from IIT are considered among the world’s best engineers—a critical asset for Korea’s technology-driven startup ecosystem.

This strengthened partnership between Korea and India marks a significant step toward building a more connected and globally competitive startup landscape in both countries.

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