Startup and SMEs collab with South Korea sought

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is exploring closer collaboration with South Korea to strengthen the Philippines’ startup and small and medium enterprise (SME) ecosystem, following discussions with one of Korea’s leading innovation organizations.

In a news release, the DTI said officials from its Competitiveness and Innovation Group (CIG) and the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Seoul (PTIC-Seoul) met with the Seoul Center for Creative Economy and Innovation (SCCEI) on June 19 to discuss opportunities for cooperation in innovation, entrepreneurship, and startup development.

The Philippine delegation was led by DTI-CIG Assistant Secretary Nylah Rizza Bautista, who exchanged views with SCCEI officials on the business environment for startups and SMEs in both countries and prospects for expanding bilateral innovation partnerships.

During the meeting, Bautista highlighted the Philippines’ growing creative industries, noting their strong cultural and content-driven orientation, and identified opportunities for collaboration with Korean technology startups and companies engaged in culture-related industries.

She also cited as a possible model for the Philippines several SCCEI-supported startups that have successfully commercialized souvenirs from rural communities, combining local culture with entrepreneurship.

SCCEI officials presented the organization’s role as an open innovation hub that connects regional startup centers with major Korean conglomerates to help emerging businesses access technology, investments, and commercialization opportunities.

According to the DTI, Bautista noted similarities between SCCEI’s approach and the Philippines’ own startup incubation initiatives under the department, reflecting both countries’ shared interest in supporting innovation-driven enterprises.

The discussions also included a tour of SCCEI’s facilities and a question-and-answer session on the organization’s programs and partnerships.

SCCEI is a public-private organization under South Korea’s Ministry of SMEs and Startups that serves as a key institution supporting the country’s startup ecosystem through corporate partnerships, investment, and technology commercialization.

The DTI said it will continue pursuing partnerships through its Philippine Trade and Investment Centers abroad to help strengthen the country’s startup and SME ecosystem and promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth.