Busan Center Seeks Six Startups for Tokyo Expo Push

BUSAN — A new program aims to turn Korean startups' trade-show appearances in Japan into business partnerships and investment. The Busan Center for Creative Economy and Innovation said it is recruiting six companies for "Plug in: Tokyo#15," which supports business ties with large and mid-sized Japanese corporations and corporate venture capital firms, with applications open until Oct. 15.

The selected companies will take part in Startup JAPAN EXPO 2026, to be held for two days from Dec. 16 at GYM-EX in Tokyo's Ariake district, where each will run its own exhibition booth and hold business meetings with local companies and investors. The program is designed to extend beyond the exhibition itself to follow-up outcomes such as proof-of-concept projects, business cooperation and investment.

Participants can ask expected visitors to stop by their booths in advance, setting the program apart from the usual approach of searching for buyers on the spot. The Busan center will cover booth setup and promotional materials and support participation in the official conference and networking events, as well as a local results-sharing session.

The center is focusing on Japan because earlier programs have produced tangible partnerships. It operated a joint pavilion in the first half of this year, holding about 300 one-on-one business meetings that led to three proof-of-concept projects, two memorandums of understanding and one non-disclosure agreement. The pavilion also generated 31 proposals for technology adoption and more than 80 follow-up meetings.

Eligible applicants are incorporated startups less than seven years old that want to enter the Japanese market. They must have staff able to conduct business meetings in Japanese, and their chief executive or another C-level decision-maker must be able to attend in person. Applicants must also meet at least one of the following: a business track record in Japan, cumulative funding of 100 million won or more, or ownership of a Japanese subsidiary or base, or preparations to establish one. Companies working on AI transformation will receive preference, and firms that the Busan center has invested in directly will get three additional evaluation points.

The center has taken part in Startup JAPAN EXPO for four consecutive years since 2023. In March this year, it signed a memorandum of understanding with Sansan, the Japanese organizer of the event, to support startup exchanges between Korea and Japan and overseas expansion, expanding its local network. Applications close at 5:59 p.m. on Oct. 15, and six companies will be selected through document screening and online presentations.

"Through this program, we will actively support promising Korean startups in broadening their contacts with major Japanese corporations and investors, so that taking part in the exhibition leads to real business cooperation and results in the Japanese market," said Kim Da-eun, a manager at the Busan center.