Open Innovation Strategy in the AI Era
Session Overview
The rapid advancement of AI is reshaping the way global open innovation ecosystems operate. Deal sourcing is shifting from networks to data, partnerships are moving from simple proof-of-concept projects toward deeper combinations of AI capabilities, and corporations and venture capital firms are redesigning the entire process of startup discovery, validation, and investment through AI.
At the same time, industries such as manufacturing, finance, and healthcare are progressing at different speeds, creating distinct partnership needs and collaboration conditions. This session examines the new dynamics emerging among large enterprises, startups, and innovation intermediaries as they respond to these changes.
Drawing on extensive experience in startup globalization and open innovation, the session will explore the key strategic questions organizations must address: which challenges to prioritize, which partners to engage, and how to structure collaboration so that AI-driven innovation can move from experimentation to measurable business impact.
Key Takeaways
- How AI is changing startup discovery, validation, and investment
- The shift from network-based sourcing to data-driven open innovation
- Why partnership models must differ across manufacturing, finance, healthcare, and other industries
- How enterprises, startups, and intermediaries can define the right collaboration structure
- Practical considerations for turning AI-enabled partnerships into scalable business outcomes
Speaker
Hyungsuk Jin is an expert in startup globalization support and open innovation. He earned a master's degree in international trade from the Geneva Graduate Institute and a doctorate from Konkuk University, where his research focused on startup cloud-service export contracts.
He serves as a director of the Korea Trade and Commerce Research Association and the Korea Venture Creation Association, and has worked for the past five years as an AI expert and mentor for Korea's Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. Since 2019, he has also served as Global President of NextRise, one of Asia's leading open innovation fairs, overseeing more than 10,000 one-to-one open innovation meetings each year between large corporations and startups.
He has led programs including the COEX Second Floor Innovation Support Center and the Startup Branch initiative, which was recognized as a leading public-sector innovation case. He is also an author on startup globalization, export strategy, and open innovation policy.