Incheon Creative Economy Center Hosts ‘SURF 2025 INCHEON’ with 170 Startups

The 'SURF 2025 INCHEON' event, hosted by the Incheon Center for Creative Economy & Innovation, energized Songdo Convensia for two days starting September 23rd. Under the slogan 'Start UP, Ready for Future,' over 20 diverse programs unfolded, including expert lectures, startup product exhibitions, investment attraction IR, and meetups, all while casting a spotlight on the future of AI and robotics. The opening ceremony was successfully held at 10 AM on the 23rd, attended by key figures such as Ha Byeong-pil, Incheon Vice Mayor for Administrative Affairs, and Jeong Il-young, National Assembly member. During the keynote lectures, science communicator Gwedo, Kakao Mobility Vice President Jang Sung-wook, and Maum AI Research Institute Director Son Byeong-hee deeply explored 'The Present and Future of the AI Era' and engaged with attendees. In the subsequent Future Industry Trends Seminar, experts including Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business President Xiang Bing introduced the forefront of AI and robotics technology, attracting keen interest. At the venue, innovative technologies from over 170 startups were exhibited across 11 theme zones, including AI, Robotics, and Global, drawing numerous visitors. Notably, KT and Korean Air operated booths to introduce their open innovation projects, and in the MeetUp Zone, 25 large and medium-sized enterprises such as KT, Hanjin, Kakao Mobility, and Samsung SDI participated to explore collaboration opportunities with startups. VC meetups and mentoring for policy, funding, and export support were also actively conducted, providing practical growth opportunities. CEO Lee Han-seop stated that this event served as a platform to share future industry trends and confirm the potential of startups, and expressed his hope that technological innovation would lead to new growth engines for Incheon's startup ecosystem.