Global Business Innovation Programme - Maritime Technologies South Korea 2025

Successful applicants will benefit from an intensive 9-12 month, three phase programme with bespoke support from an innovation and growth specialist throughout.

Get ready: A two-day preparation workshop to build knowledge and understanding of the market and opportunities, including cultural aspects, how to do business, protecting Intellectual Property, and training on articulating your value proposition.

Visit the market: Explore the innovation opportunities first-hand through pre-arranged matchmaking events, meetings with key contacts, research organisations and potential collaborators and partners.

Exploit the opportunity: An exploitation workshop and one-to-one bespoke support from an innovation and growth specialist to help you follow-up and maximise the opportunities identified through the programme.

To apply for this initiative, you must be:

• a UK-based innovation-led company with ambitions to grow and internationalise
• a company with fewer than 250 employees
• in a senior position such as CEO, founder, or decision maker in the business
• able to attend all workshops and complete all activities

Businesses that have been on a previous GBIP (in the same market and/or technology area) will need to demonstrate they have exploited the previous opportunity to be considered and how this programme will add significant additional benefit.  Preference may be given to businesses that have not participated previously.

Innovate UK is committed to improving the diversity of who we support. We welcome applications from under-represented groups.

South Korea is a dominant force in the global maritime sector, particularly in shipbuilding and maritime transport. The country’s shipbuilding industry is renowned for its technology and quality, with major shipyards like Hyundai Heavy Industries, Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering and Samsung Heavy Industries developing and delivering high-performance vessels.  South Korea also boasts a strong maritime logistics and shipping sector, with busy ports and shipping lines facilitating global trade.

With a strong emphasis on innovation and sustainability, the country is leading efforts in low- and zero-carbon shipping, digital shipbuilding, and marine carbon capture technologies.

The UK maritime industry sees South Korea as a priority market for research collaboration, such as in advanced shipbuilding and integration of digital and clean maritime technologies. Both countries are signatories to the Clydebank Declaration for Green Shipping Corridors, highlighting a mutual commitment to decarbonising shipping routes and creating a strong foundation for meaningful international partnerships.

UK-South Korea relations are strengthened by two 5-year agreements to support innovative R&D collaboration with programmes delivered through Innovate UK and Korea’s Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT) and the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (KETEP). In addition, the UK and South Korea signed a Science & Technology Framework Agreement in 2022, reinforcing a shared ambition to deepen innovation-led collaboration.

The GBIP will present an unparalleled opportunity to attend Kormarine 2025 in Busan and to visit relevant organisations in the region.

October 2025

• Introductory briefing with the British Embassy
• Visits to Korean research and technology organisations
• Participation in Kormarine 2025, a global maritime event
• Company visits and meetings with Korean contacts.
• Focused B2B events and tailored 1-2-1 meetings
• High quality networking opportunities

• Technology integration into newbuild and retrofitted ships including alternative fuel systems, battery technology and energy efficiency
• Technology for shipyard optimisation and decarbonisation
• Green shipping corridors
• Smart Shipping, digital and quantum maritime technology, including autonomy, cybersecurity, route optimisation

• Build market knowledge and intelligence
• Introductions to senior figures and influential contacts
• Raise your profile and stimulate new business opportunities and ideas
• Seed new business partnerships, develop RD&I collaborations and identify partners for bi-lateral funding calls
• Improve your proposition, hone your skills and grow in confidence
• Expand your network and learn from like-minded, ambitious businesses

“The programme provided amazing opportunities to establish connections in the region and sector, as well as giving exposure to the local business culture.” Exodus Orbitals

“The programme was excellent and very well planned. I thoroughly enjoyed all aspects.  We achieved our objectives and secured discussions around international collaborations, we also refined our business value proposition and got strong pitching experience”. OpenKit

(GBIP Smart Cities South Korea 2024).

• Applicant briefing – 29^th May 2025
• Application deadline – 16^th July 2025
• Application outcome – 30^th July 2025
• Get ready workshop – 1^st-2^nd Sept 2025
• Market Visit – 17^th-25^th Oct  2025
• Exploit the opportunity workshop – 3^rd Dec 2025

Innovate UK will fund and organise flights, accommodation, in-market travel, and conference fees for successful applicants.

Innovate UK will also pay for any reasonable adjustments throughout the initiative. Only one representative from each company will be funded and the same person will be expected to participate in all parts of the programme.

On acceptance to the programme a commitment fee of £1000 will be obtained from each delegate, which will be refunded on completion of the full activities and agreed action plan.

Non-completion after formal acceptance may result in forfeiting some or all of the commitment fee.

Innovate UK will hold an online briefing on Thursday 29 May 2025 ,09:00 – 10:00 BST: click here to register for a place.

Click here to view a sample application form.

Any questions: please contact Sarah.Hildersley@iukbg.ukri.org