Seoul is set to host its inaugural open innovation event, aimed at fostering collaboration between global companies, investors, healthcare institutions, and domestic medical device firms.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI) announced the upcoming MedTech Spotlight: New Impact Korea 2026 event, scheduled for March 19-20 at the Convention and Exhibition Center (COEX) and Sonofelice Convention Center in Seoul.
Recognizing the need for multi-stakeholder cooperation in the medical device industry, these organizations are spearheading global open innovation initiatives to connect domestic companies with international firms, investors, and healthcare institutions.
Open innovation refers to a strategy where companies leverage external technologies and ideas while sharing internal resources to create novel products or services.
This landmark event marks Korea’s first collaboration with MedTech Innovator APAC, the largest medical device accelerator in the Asia-Pacific region.
The Korea Medical Device Industry Association will co-host the event, with support from Korea International Medical & Hospital Equipment Show (KIMES) 2026, organized by Korea E&EX.
The first day, March 19, at COEX will feature pre-coaching sessions and an event for invited judges.
During pre-coaching, global accelerator experts will work with participating domestic medical device companies to refine their global market entry pitches, business models, and presentation strategies, while enhancing their international communication skills.
Concurrently, the 22 invited international judges will tour the KIMES 2026 exhibition.
This initiative aims to provide domestic companies with direct access to industry experts from global firms, investors, and healthcare institutions, offering a taste of the global stage. It also allows invited global experts to experience firsthand the current landscape of Korea’s medical device market through KIMES.
The event boasts a panel of 34 judges (22 international and 12 domestic) representing major global medical device companies and investment institutions from the U.S., Europe, and Asia-Pacific, including Johnson & Johnson MedTech, Becton Dickinson, B. Braun, and Philips Ventures.
On March 20, a closed-door, discussion-style pitching event will take place.
Sixteen pre-selected domestic medical device companies will present their technologies and business strategies, engaging in discussions with judges to receive practical feedback on their global market entry strategies.
This innovative pitching session will employ a roundtable format, with judges rotating among company tables, facilitating in-depth strategic discussions and expert advice from global industry leaders.
The afternoon will feature a public global conference, sharing insights on collaboration strategies with international companies and investors, as well as entry strategies for U.S. and Asia-Pacific markets crucial for global commercialization.
A networking dinner, linked with the K-BIC Venture Café, will follow the conference. Since 2023, the K-BIC Venture Café has been hosting monthly events to support domestic biohealth startups through investment briefings, mentoring, and networking opportunities.
Jeong Eun-young, Director of the Health Industry Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, stated that it is committed to expanding the global cooperation network to establish Korea as a key hub in the global biohealth innovation ecosystem.
Cha Soon-do, head of KHIDI, expressed optimism that this event would serve as a springboard for domestic companies to enhance their competitiveness and make significant strides in the global market.