Ministry of SMEs and Startups Creates Platform for Communication Among Startup

'2026 University Startup Festival' To Be Held

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced on September 16 that it will host the '2026 University Startup Festival' at Pusan National University over two days, September 16 and 17.

Following Chonbuk National University and Hannam University, this marks the third time the event is being held this year, now at Pusan National University. The festival was organized to actively support youth entrepreneurship by connecting university education and practical training with employment and startup opportunities.

On the first day, during the 'Vision Declaration Ceremony for Startup-Centered Universities', Noh Yongseok, First Vice Minister of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups; Yoo Jongpil, President of the Korea Institute of Startup & Entrepreneurship Development; Choi Jaewon, President of Pusan National University; and representatives from 11 startup-centered universities nationwide declared a vision to support university students in preparing for startups and settling in local communities. They also pledged to strengthen customized startup support for young people focused on the regional, artificial intelligence (AI), and deep tech sectors.

In the subsequent 'Startup Talk Concert for Everyone', Vice Minister Noh, along with founders of leading youth startups, venture capital experts, challenger teams from the first Startup for Everyone Project, and panels of university students and young people, participated. These participants shared the difficulties and experiences of overcoming challenges during the actual startup process, discussed trends in youth entrepreneurship both domestically and abroad, and made suggestions regarding youth startup policies such as the Startup for Everyone initiative.

The 'Startup for Everyone University League Hackathon' was also held, featuring 22 university startup teams that advanced through regional preliminaries at 11 startup-centered universities nationwide. Each team competed by selecting one of four missions: advancing business models, attracting investment, pioneering new sales channels, or making a global entry. The five best teams selected from this hackathon will be awarded the Minister of SMEs and Startups Award and a prize of up to 10 million won.

Vice Minister Noh stated, "We will foster startup-centered universities as hubs for youth entrepreneurship in local communities so that universities can be a starting point for young people to experience, connect, and grow through startups," adding, "We will faithfully reflect the voices of university students and young people heard at the festival site in youth entrepreneurship policies going forward."

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