The Korea Institute of Startup & Entrepreneurship Development (KISED) announced on the 17th that Cho Kyung-won, the Director of Entrepreneurship Policy at Korea’s Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS), and Pascal Sourisse, the Senior Vice President of International Business Development at Thales Group, have met to discuss enhancing cooperation in the startup sector. During this meeting, they signed a business agreement.

Thales, a global leader headquartered in France, is at the forefront of the defense, aerospace, and cyber security industries. It runs digital innovation hubs called ‘Thales Digital Factory’ in major cities such as Paris, Montreal, and Singapore, and actively engages in open innovation initiatives, including a deep tech startup training program.

In the meeting, Choi Yeol-soo, Acting Director of KISED, and Pascal Sourisse deliberated on ways to boost the competitiveness of Korean startups in aerospace, aviation, and deep tech, and to support their expansion into global markets. Thales presented its startup support project and proposed involvement in MSS’s global corporate collaboration program.

Subsequently, KISED and Thales Korea signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to lay the groundwork for future collaboration. The agreement focuses on connecting the startup ecosystems in aerospace, aviation, and deep tech fields, utilizing both parties’ startup support infrastructure to enhance the competitiveness of domestic startups and assist their international growth.

Pascal Sourisse expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership with KISED, aiming to nurture Korea’s startup ecosystem and facilitate their entry into international markets, describing it as a significant asset for leading promising startups.

Cho Kyung-won emphasized the importance of the collaboration with Thales, reflecting on the Korean government’s commitment to nurturing promising startups in aerospace, aviation, and deep tech sectors. Choi Yeol-soo echoed this sentiment, affirming that KISED will tirelessly support innovative startups to spearhead digital innovation and make strides in the global market through the collaboration with Thales.