Germany’s Berlin Delegation Visits Incheon Startup Park for a Meetup

The Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority (IFEZA) is strengthening cooperation with Berlin, Germany, a European startup hub city, to support Incheon’s startups wishing to enter the European market.

IFEZA announced that it held a meetup at Incheon Startup Park on June 10 for startup ecosystem officials and startups in both cities to network.

This meetup was held due to full cooperation with Berlin starting in 2023. Last year, the Berlin delegation participated in the ‘IFEZ Smart City International Symposium’ as an overseas cooperation city, signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the smart city and startup areas, and paved the way for cooperation by participating in the ‘Boom Up Festival’ at Incheon Startup Park.

The Berlin delegation that visited Incheon this year comprised the Berlin Senate Department for Economic Affairs, Energy and Public Enterprises, Berlin Partner (startup hub), Asia Berlin Forum (startup advisory agency), accelerators, and startups. Several accelerators and startups hoping to advance into Europe also participated from Incheon.

Participating companies were given a detailed introduction to the startup ecosystem and support programs in both cities and asked multilateral questions concerning preparation for overseas expansion.

An official from a participating company said, “It was great to hear down-to-earth advice from people with expertise and experience in Berlin’s startup environment and field, and I could get a sense of what areas to focus on when entering Europe.”

 In addition, Shim Sun-ok, the Smart City Director at the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority, said, “I am glad that the trust we established built with Berlin will prime Incheon’s startups for entering Europe,” and added, “We will strengthen cooperation with overseas startup hub cities to create a global ecosystem for startups.”