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South Korea visit strengthens research and innovation partnerships

8 July 2026

A UCL delegation visited South Korea to strengthen partnerships across academia, industry and government, with a focus on research collaboration, innovation and international growth.

South Korea visit strengthens research and innovation partnerships

Professor Geraint Rees, UCL Vice-Provost (Research, Innovation and Global Engagement), led engagement with key partners including Korea University, Yonsei University, and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). Discussions focused on Horizon Europe collaboration, research mobility and trilateral partnership opportunities, with interest in engaging additional international partners. 

The delegation also included senior academic and faculty leadership, including Professor Lasana Harris, Vice‑Dean International, Faculty of Brain Sciences; Professor Neil Curson, Professor of Nanoelectronics and Nanofabrication at the London Centre for Nanotechnology; Professor Jeom Paik Kee, UCL GITCC Director, Faculty of Engineering; and Dr Rob Thompson, Vice‑Dean Enterprise, Faculty of Engineering.

The visit reinforced the growing role of the UCL Global Industrial Technology Cooperation Centre (GITCC) as a platform for UK–South Korea collaboration. Discussions also supported ongoing engagement with government ministries and with the British Embassy in Seoul and its Science and Technology Network. 

The delegation also connected with UCL’s Korean alumni, with an alumni reception in Seoul proving to be the most popular in the city to date, achieving a record‑breaking attendance of 124 attendees. 

Professor Geraint Rees, UCL Vice-Provost (Research, Innovation and Global Engagement), said: “Our visit to South Korea demonstrated strong alignment between UCL and our partners across research, innovation and global collaboration. There is clear momentum to deepen these relationships and develop new opportunities that support both academic excellence and real-world impact.” 

At Yonsei University, discussions identified clear opportunities to advance Horizon Europe bids, through the expanding the partnership into a trilateral collaboration with the University of Sydney, as well as interest in student exchange and research mobility. 

Engagement with Korea University focused on strengthening collaboration through building trilateral partnerships and exploring new opportunities in entrepreneurship, including a potential summer school in partnership with UCL Innovation and Enterprise. 

Meetings with KAIST and Samsung HI identified scope to expand collaboration beyond current activities, with follow-up engagement planned through webinars and joint initiatives. Broader industry and government engagement included KIAT, Hyundai Motor Company, and the Incheon Free Economic Zone, highlighting opportunities in advanced manufacturing, battery technologies, robotics, AI and future mobility. 

The visit forms part of UCL’s wider efforts to strengthen strategic partnerships across East Asia, building on existing collaboration and identifying opportunities to scale activity through research funding, industry partnerships and global engagement. 

Shortly after the outbound visit, UCL welcomed a delegation of tech startups and SMEs to its Bloomsbury campus. Bringing together colleagues from the GITCC, Innovate UK Business Growth, the Translational Research Office and UCL Engineering, the visit showcased UCL’s strengths in hydrogen, clean energy and bio-health, and explored opportunities for collaboration, funding and international growth.

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