Event
NIPA’s Global AI Leadership Forum strengthens Korea-UAE partnership at Expand North Star
Written by Chiara de Caro, 13. October 2025NIPA’s 'Korea-UAE Path to Global AI Leadership Forum' organized by AGCC at Expand North Star showcased the growing strategic partnership between Korea and the UAE in AI innovation and technology transfer.
Leading AI experts from Korea and the UAE shared practical guidance on AI infrastructure, applications, regulatory alignment, and sustainable computing for global market impact.
On October 13, 2025, Korea’s National IT Industry Promotion Agency (NIPA) hosted “Decoding AI Tech Transfer: The Korea-UAE Path to Global AI Leadership” on the 10X main stage at Expand North Star, the Middle East’s largest tech conference. The forum brought together top AI leaders from Korea and the UAE to foster collaboration and drive joint innovation in AI infrastructure and applications.
Mr. Deuk Jung Kim, Executive Vice President of NIPA, opened the forum by underscoring the shared vision between the two countries, asserting that their joint efforts in artificial intelligence will be a core engine of innovation to become a global AI powerhouse.
The first panel session, “Shaping the Future with AI on Global Level”, moderated by Jemma Jeon, CEO of AGCC Korea (the organizer of the event), featured an elite panel of global AI infrastructure and application layer experts:
- Vincenzo Pinto, Vice President, AI & Data at e&;
- Klemensas Mecejus, Executive Director at AI71;
- June Paik, CEO of FuriosaAI
The panelists delivered concrete, actionable advice for Korean tech innovators on aligning with the UAE's ambitious AI vision, covering critical topics from the regulatory landscape to joint development strategies.
June Paik, CEO of FuriosaAI, captured the urgency of the infrastructure challenge by highlighting the need for sustainable and accessible AI. "The AI cost is not getting cheaper. It's getting even more expensive," Paik stated. "Eventually, it will leave a lot of people who cannot afford to use AI behind. ... The mission of making AI computing more sustainable is quite a global thing." His comments underscored the critical role of next-generation hardware in achieving the ambitious AI goals of both nations.
Mr. Deuk Jung Kim, Executive Vice President of NIPA, opened the forum by underscoring the shared vision between the two countries, asserting that their joint efforts in artificial intelligence will be a core engine of innovation to become a global AI powerhouse.
The first panel session, “Shaping the Future with AI on Global Level”, moderated by Jemma Jeon, CEO of AGCC Korea (the organizer of the event), featured an elite panel of global AI infrastructure and application layer experts:
- Vincenzo Pinto, Vice President, AI & Data at e&;
- Klemensas Mecejus, Executive Director at AI71;
- June Paik, CEO of FuriosaAI
The panelists delivered concrete, actionable advice for Korean tech innovators on aligning with the UAE's ambitious AI vision, covering critical topics from the regulatory landscape to joint development strategies.
June Paik, CEO of FuriosaAI, captured the urgency of the infrastructure challenge by highlighting the need for sustainable and accessible AI. "The AI cost is not getting cheaper. It's getting even more expensive," Paik stated. "Eventually, it will leave a lot of people who cannot afford to use AI behind. ... The mission of making AI computing more sustainable is quite a global thing." His comments underscored the critical role of next-generation hardware in achieving the ambitious AI goals of both nations.
Nota AI announced its upcoming IPO in Korea, while AGCC highlighted tangible opportunities for next-generation AI collaborations between the two nations.
The second panel session moderated by Dooyeon Kim,"The Future of Smart Cities with AI", provided an insightful conversation on the blueprint for future urban environments among AI model experts:
- Tae-Ho Kim, CEO of Nota AI
- Dr. Hakim Hacid, Chief Researcher at Technology Innovation Institute (TII)
- Fan Zhu, Senior Vice President at Space42
During the discussion, Dr. Hakim Hacid offered a foundational perspective on AI's role. He explained that for future cities, AI will not be "just as an additional layer, but it's actually a whole infrastructure that will be dictating how things are operated, how the cities are becoming more efficient... and more sustainable." His remarks emphasized the central role of foundational AI research in shaping the cities of tomorrow.
In a significant announcement, Mr. Kim of Nota AI revealed that their company is set to go public. During his introduction, Kim stated, "We just got approval from the Korean stock exchange. In the next month, we are going to public in Korea", marking a major milestone for the AI optimization company.
- Tae-Ho Kim, CEO of Nota AI
- Dr. Hakim Hacid, Chief Researcher at Technology Innovation Institute (TII)
- Fan Zhu, Senior Vice President at Space42
During the discussion, Dr. Hakim Hacid offered a foundational perspective on AI's role. He explained that for future cities, AI will not be "just as an additional layer, but it's actually a whole infrastructure that will be dictating how things are operated, how the cities are becoming more efficient... and more sustainable." His remarks emphasized the central role of foundational AI research in shaping the cities of tomorrow.
In a significant announcement, Mr. Kim of Nota AI revealed that their company is set to go public. During his introduction, Kim stated, "We just got approval from the Korean stock exchange. In the next month, we are going to public in Korea", marking a major milestone for the AI optimization company.
AGCC brings together top AI leaders from Korea and the UAE to foster collaboration and drive joint innovation in AI infrastructure and applications.
“AGCC’s mission is to be a catalyst for tangible partnerships, not just conversations,” said Han Gust, Co-founder of AGCC. “The incredible engagement from the UAE AI leaders at e&, AI71, TII and Space42 and next-gen AI companies from Korea including FuriosaAI and NotaAI showcases the immense potential when Korea’s world-class AI technology meets the UAE's future-forward vision. We are proud to have created this vital link and laid the groundwork for future collaborations.”
The forum's impact was immediately amplified online as distinguished panelists took to professional networks like LinkedIn to praise its substance and execution. One UAE AI leader lauded the event as "an impressive session with a higher level of discussion than any other event I have recently attended," while another credited the "outstanding facilitation" for enabling a powerful conversation. This immediate and public endorsement from the UAE's top AI minds serves as the strongest testament that the forum successfully forged the strategic connections that will define the future of Korea-UAE AI collaboration.
About NIPA (National IT Industry Promotion Agency)
NIPA is a government agency under the South Korean Ministry of Science and ICT. NIPA is the leading Korean agency to strengthen the nation's AI and technology sector. NIPA's core mission is to bolster the national economy and ensure global competitiveness by promoting the IT industry, fostering innovation and assisting Korean ICT companies in their expansion to global markets.
About AGCC
AGCC is a strategic growth platform and investment firm with presence in the UAE, South Korea, and Germany. AGCC is committed to identifying and scaling high-potential technology companies and next-gen brands in the GCC market and beyond. Leveraging its trusted government partnerships, deep network, and market expertise, AGCC facilitates strategic partnerships, market entry and investments to help promising startups and enterprises succeed.
The forum's impact was immediately amplified online as distinguished panelists took to professional networks like LinkedIn to praise its substance and execution. One UAE AI leader lauded the event as "an impressive session with a higher level of discussion than any other event I have recently attended," while another credited the "outstanding facilitation" for enabling a powerful conversation. This immediate and public endorsement from the UAE's top AI minds serves as the strongest testament that the forum successfully forged the strategic connections that will define the future of Korea-UAE AI collaboration.
About NIPA (National IT Industry Promotion Agency)
NIPA is a government agency under the South Korean Ministry of Science and ICT. NIPA is the leading Korean agency to strengthen the nation's AI and technology sector. NIPA's core mission is to bolster the national economy and ensure global competitiveness by promoting the IT industry, fostering innovation and assisting Korean ICT companies in their expansion to global markets.
About AGCC
AGCC is a strategic growth platform and investment firm with presence in the UAE, South Korea, and Germany. AGCC is committed to identifying and scaling high-potential technology companies and next-gen brands in the GCC market and beyond. Leveraging its trusted government partnerships, deep network, and market expertise, AGCC facilitates strategic partnerships, market entry and investments to help promising startups and enterprises succeed.
Newsletter
Get valuable insights, exciting stories and other things worth sharing in your inbox.
