Agency engages 16 innovative firms through one-on-one consultations, procurement guidance programs
South Korea's Public Procurement Service is strengthening its field-based support system for regional innovators, building a pipeline that runs from identifying promising local firms to linking them with public demand, facilitating purchase consultations and ultimately securing market access.
The agency visited the innovative procurement pavilion at the 2026 International Environment and Energy Industry Exhibition, known as ENTECH 2026, at Busan's BEXCO on Wednesday to inspect its on-site efforts to help innovative products reach public-sector buyers.
The visit aimed to hear directly from regional companies about their challenges and explore ways to help their technologies and products improve public services — and to use public procurement as a springboard for entering new markets.
ENTECH 2026 marks its 20th edition this year and is one of South Korea's leading trade fairs for the environment and energy sectors. The exhibition runs from Wednesday through Friday at BEXCO in Busan, featuring 200 companies from seven countries across 450 booths. Business programs on offer include export consultations and public procurement meetings designed to help environment and energy firms expand both domestically and abroad.
The Public Procurement Service is operating an innovative products pavilion at the exhibition under the supervision of its Busan regional office, showcasing outstanding regional innovations to public institutions and visitors through a promotional area and booths for 16 participating companies.
The pavilion is hosting one-on-one purchase consultations between innovative firms and procurement officers from public institutions, alongside a public procurement guidance program to help companies navigate the procurement market and make use of available systems. The agency expects the initiative to give regional innovators a direct window into public demand and a broader path to market.
Deputy Commissioner Kang Seong-min of the Public Procurement Service toured the pavilion on Wednesday, examining the products and technologies on display and listening to the concerns and suggestions of company representatives. "There are many innovative companies in the regions with excellent technology, but a good product needs the bridge of public procurement before it can actually be used in the market," Kang said. "We will strengthen tailored market-access support that reflects the voices from the field, so that regional innovative companies can find their first market through public procurement and continue to grow."
kwonhl@heraldcorp.com
