Industrial complex export fair expands beyond trade into global partnership

The Korea Industrial Complex Export Fair (KICEF) is evolving from a trade event into a forum for investment and cooperation with global companies.

The Korea Industrial Complex Corp. held the second KICEF alongside the global open-innovation event KICXUP GLOBAL 2026 at EXCO in Daegu from Sept. 14 to 16.

Co-hosted with the Korea Industrial Complex Management Association, the fair centered on one-on-one export consultations with global buyers. A total of 1,091 consultations took place, involving 102 buyers from 19 countries and 250 domestic companies — a 44 percent increase from 760 sessions last year.

Total consultation value reached $332 million, with $106 million worth of deals in the pipeline for contract finalization. Fifteen memoranda of understanding worth a combined $5.4 million were also signed at the event.

"This fair went beyond simple product introductions and consultations — discussions covered supply conditions, transaction methods and future cooperation plans in concrete terms," the Korea Industrial Complex Corp. said. "We connected the technology and product competitiveness of industrial complex companies to real export potential."

KICXUP GLOBAL drew domestic anchor companies including HD Hyundai Samho and Sealink, along with 45 domestic and international companies, venture capital firms and buyers — among them New Energy Nexus from the United States and Shim San Ventures from the United Kingdom — as well as more than 150 startups. Participants shared technologies and business models and explored investment and collaboration opportunities. The event produced five investment network expansion proposals, 10 technology verification cases, 11 follow-on investment and guarantee discussions, and four business cooperation proposals.

The Korea Industrial Complex Corp. plans to follow up with participating companies and overseas buyers to manage subsequent negotiations and additional export outcomes. It will also link participants to KOTRA's export promotion event "Export Boom-Up Korea," scheduled for Oct. 21 and 22, through both online and offline channels.

Choi Cheol-ho, chairman of the Korea Industrial Complex Management Association, said companies from industrial complexes across the country gathered in one place and held more than 1,000 consultations with global buyers. "We will actively help expand access to overseas market information and buyer networks," he said.

Lee Sang-hoon, chairman of the Korea Industrial Complex Corp., said the fair was designed to ensure that the technologies and products of industrial complex companies lead not only to exports but also to investment and technology cooperation. "We will build this into a platform that connects each region's specialized industries and outstanding companies to global markets," he said.