Partnership Discussions for Six UK Tech Firms Initiated in South Korea
UK-APAC Tech Growth Programme finds British semiconductor & AI technologies in high demand
The innovative semiconductor and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies showcased by six UK companies on a trade mission to South Korea in February have sparked significant interest among Korean corporations.
The UK-APAC Tech Growth Programme arranged more than 40 meetings for the businesses with Korean companies including Hyundai Motor Group Korea, LG Electronics, Samsung Venture Investment and SK Telecom, as well as research institutes ETRI and KETI. The meetings took place as part of the UK Government’s Deep Tech Trade Mission to Seoul. Follow up discussions are now underway, seeking to progress commercial partnerships.
Backed by the UK Government’s Department for Business & Trade, the UK-APAC Tech Growth Programme provides free and subsidised support to UK technology firms looking to enter one or more of 11 major markets in the APAC region.
The UK companies which took part in the trade mission are:
Heronic Technologies – an Imperial College London spinout specialising in AI accelerator architectures
Monolith AI – a London-based creator of an AI platform that revolutionises battery and automotive R&D testing
QuinasTechnology – a Lancaster University spinout using compound semiconductors and quantum mechanics to develop ultra-efficient universal memory solutions
Teraview – a Cambridge-based company pioneering the use of terahertz light for spectroscopy, semiconductor and coatings imaging systems
Skyral – a London-based developer of advanced modelling and simulation technology for enterprise, defence and national security applications
Smartkem – a Manchester-based developer of next-generation organic thin-film transistors
In addition to the business matching meetings, the companies were given an in-depth briefing on the semiconductor and AI markets in South Korea and the opportunity to present their technologies to an audience of Korean corporations and government representatives.
Sam Emeny-Smith, Head of Automotive & Defence at Monolith AI, said:
“This was an incredibly valuable experience. The opportunity to meet company representatives face-to-face allowed us to have deep, insightful conversations about the challenges they face and learn how AI-powered engineering could help. And the interest we received was remarkable, with companies eager to explore how our technology can accelerate innovation in the semiconductor industry. We’re looking forward to continuing discussions with several.”
James Ashforth-Pook, CEO of Quinas Technology, said:
“The mission proved an invaluable opportunity to connect with leading players and potential partners. We were delighted to hold discussions with many South Korean and research institutes. The pace of deep-tech innovation in South Korea is remarkable and our focus is now on advancing fabrication partnerships and securing investment to accelerate the path of bringing our patented memory technology to market.”
Specialists atIntralink, the international business consultancy delivering the UK-APAC Tech Growth Programme, report that South Korea is a rapidly expanding market for UK tech scaleups. Already the world’s second-largest chip producer, the country’s government has announced plans to establish the world’s biggest semiconductor supercluster in partnership with Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix.
Intralink has identified a particular opportunity for UK companies to support South Korea’s ‘upstream’ semiconductor ecosystem, which requires advanced technologies for raw materials and components such as silicon wafers, chemicals, gases and photomasks. The country depends on international suppliers for these technologies, and it believes UK innovators are well-placed to provide them.
The AI market in South Korea is also experiencing rapid expansion, with annual growth of around 17%. The government fuelled this growth with the launch of an AI Strategy Council last year and the injection of more than £400 million into AI projects across a range of sectors.
According to Intralink, the sectors presenting the most significant opportunities for UK AI companies are:
manufacturing and robotics
cybersecurity and data protection
sustainability and climate tech
healthcare and biotech.
The UK-APAC Tech Growth Programme helps high-growth UK technology firms expand into the Asia Pacific region. It provides participating companies with access to free and subsidised market entry guidance, business development support and connections with potential partners and customers across 11 APAC markets: Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Australia, and New Zealand.
UK firms interested in these markets can find out more about the Programme at: www.intralinkgroup.com/TGP
About Intralink
Intralink is a business development consultancy specialising in international markets. It helps companies secure customers, partners and investors overseas, it supports cross-border corporate collaborations, and it assists governments in driving exports and attracting foreign investment. Founded in 1990, Intralink operates in more than 20 locations worldwide including Shanghai, Beijing, Tokyo, Seoul, Taipei and Singapore.
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Sabina Ciofu is Associate Director – International, running the International Policy and Trade Programme at techUK.
Based in Brussels, she leads our EU policy and engagement. She is also our lead on international trade policy, with a focus on digital trade chapter in FTAs, regulatory cooperation as well as broader engagement with the G7, G20, WTO and OECD.
As a transatlanticist at heart, Sabina is a GMF Marshall Memorial fellow and issue-lead on the EU-US Trade and Technology Council, within DigitalEurope.
Previously, she worked as Policy Advisor to a Member of the European Parliament for almost a decade, where she specialised in tech regulation, international trade and EU-US relations.
Sabina loves building communities and bringing people together. She is the founder of the Gentlewomen’s Club and co-organiser of the Young Professionals in Digital Policy. Previously, as a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers Community, she led several youth civic engagement and gender equality projects.
She sits on the Advisory Board of the University College London European Institute, Café Transatlantique, a network of women in transatlantic technology policy and The Nine, Brussels’ first members-only club designed for women.
Sabina holds an MA in War Studies from King’s College London and a BA in Classics from the University of Cambridge.
Policy Manager for International Policy and Trade, techUK
Daniel Clarke
Policy Manager for International Policy and Trade, techUK
Dan joined techUK as a Policy Manager for International Policy and Trade in March 2023.
Before techUK, Dan worked for data and consulting company GlobalData as an analyst of tech and geopolitics. He has also worked in public affairs, political polling, and has written freelance for the New Statesman and Investment Monitor.
Dan has a degree in MSc International Public Policy from University College London, and a BA Geography degree from the University of Sussex.
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Theo joined techUK in 2024 as EU Policy Manager. Based in Brussels, he works on our EU policy and engagement.
Theo is an experienced policy adviser who has helped connect EU and non-EU decision makers.
Prior to techUK, Theo worked at the EU delegation to Australia, the Israeli trade mission to the EU, and the City of London Corporation’s Brussels office. In his role, Theo ensures that techUK members are well-informed about EU policy, its origins, and its implications, while also facilitating valuable input to Brussels-based decision-makers.
Theo holds and LLM in International and European law, and an MA in European Studies, both from the University of Amsterdam.
Lewis' programmes cover a range of policy areas within Market Access (international trade regulation, sanctions and export controls, technical standards and product compliance, supply chains) and Consumer Tech (media and broadcast policy, consumer electronics, and connected home technology).
Prior to joining techUK, Lewis worked in government affairs and policy roles for international trade associations in Southeast Asia including the American Malaysian Chamber of Commerce and the European Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia.
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Tess joined techUK as an Policy and Public Affairs Team Assistant in November of 2024. In this role, she supports areas such as administration, member communications and media content.
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