Finland-Korea Defense Innovation Webinar

South Korea’s Defense Innovation 4.0 is accelerating in 2026 as the country advances AI, quantum-enabled, and space-based defense capabilities. With a significantly expanded 2026 defense budget of KRW 65.8642 trillion (€38.3bn), Korea is reinforcing its long-term shift toward high‑technology military readiness. This creates strong opportunities for Finnish dual‑use and defense-relevant technologies aligned with Korea’s modernization priorities.

As Korea accelerates its modernization efforts, the Defense Innovation 4.0 program is increasingly shifting toward international co-development models, greater integration of dual-use technologies, and the establishment of next‑generation defense supply chains. This evolving landscape opens new avenues for bilateral cooperation, where Finland’s strengths in secure communications, emerging space capabilities, advanced sensing, and autonomous systems can play a critical role. With both countries prioritizing resilience, digitalization, and strategic technological autonomy, the timing is ideal to explore meaningful R&D collaboration and long-term industrial partnerships.

Korea’s Strategic Priorities for Defense Innovation

• Electromagnetic spectrum dominance and advanced tracking systems.
• Modern training architectures, simulation, and digital military education.
• Integrated manned–unmanned operations, including MUM‑T and autonomous systems.
• Smart military infrastructure and force modernization.
• Space, cyber defense, and intelligence enabled through expanded R&D and satellite programs.

Opportunities for Finnish Industry

Finland’s strengths in quantum technologies, secure communications, new space capabilities, cyber resilience, autonomous systems, and advanced embedded software make Finnish companies highly attractive partners for Korea’s expanding defense‑tech ecosystem.

Relevant Finnish Solutions

• AI, sensor fusion, robotics, and multi‑domain situational awareness.
• Autonomous systems, military training platforms, and digital twin technologies.
• Satellite communications, secure data relay, and orbital autonomy.
• 5G private networks and secure battlefield communications.
• Mission‑critical embedded systems and software platforms.
• Space‑based intelligence, SAR analytics, and real‑time monitoring.

Preliminary Programme

• 09:00–09:15 Registration
• 09:15–09:20 Welcome & Introduction
• 09:20–09:30 Korea's Defense Overview
• 09:30–09:50 Korean Defense Direction and Opportunities
• 09:50–10:15 Opportunities in the Defence R&D
• 10:15–10:20 Questions & Closing Remarks