International cooperation is a key pillar for developing innovation ecosystems, especially in a rapidly changing global environment. Slovakia has a unique opportunity to learn from countries that are more advanced in innovation and digitalization.
One such country is South Korea, where we took part in a working visit under the Slovakia–Korea Knowledge Sharing Program 2024/25. The program is organized by the Slovak Innovation and Energy Agency (SIEA) in cooperation with the Korea Development Institute (KDI).
“I see the cooperation with KDI very positively. The program was well-structured, with a good balance of analytical input, discussions, and practical demonstrations. Logistics, preparation, and openness to feedback kept the project at a high standard,” said Martin Svoboda, Director of the Innovation Section at SIEA.
Korea showed how strong coordination can accelerate innovation
One of the most striking observations from our visit was the clear centralization and coordination of innovation development in South Korea. Innovation activities there are managed at all levels with clearly defined responsibilities and roles, enabling fast decision-making and ensuring continuity of processes.
In contrast, Slovakia often faces fragmentation, overlapping responsibilities, and frequent shifts in priorities, which slow down the achievement of strategic goals. Yet international cooperation opens new doors for innovation development and strengthening.
“The program and our visit confirmed a strong potential for further collaboration – especially in supporting SME digitalization, linking research with practice, and developing cluster initiatives,” Svoboda explained.
Korean institutions stand out for their strong expertise in connecting the public and private sectors and offer hands-on experiences that can be a valuable inspiration for Slovakia.
Svoboda adds:
“Clear centralization with well-defined competencies allows for fast and consistent decision-making, which is crucial for successful innovation development. Our experience in Korea confirmed there is significant room for improving coordination and deepening cooperation – particularly in digitalization and the connection between research and practical application.”
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Building long-term partnerships
Svoboda notes that in the future, we plan to deepen cooperation between Slovak and Korean partners primarily through:
- joint calls supporting research, development, and technology transfer,
- professional internships and exchange programs for researchers, cluster experts, and representatives of public institutions,
- pilot initiatives between technology centers and clusters focused on knowledge transfer,
- regular seminars, networking events, and hybrid formats serving as platforms for relationship-building and collaboration.
“The goal is not just a one-time exchange of experience, but the creation of a strong and long-term sustainable partnership,” says Svoboda.
Collaboration that delivers results
Bilateral innovation cooperation between Korea and Slovakia has advanced significantly in recent years. Today, it represents an effective and mutually beneficial partnership.
Ms. Seo Young Kim, Director for Policy Consultation and Planning at the Korea Development Institute (KDI), emphasizes that since transitioning from a regional V4 format to a bilateral model in 2022, the cooperation has become more focused, more intense, and delivers concrete outcomes.
“Ongoing projects address current challenges of Slovak policy – from SME digitalization to the development of regional industry. The strong involvement of SIEA and the Ministry of Economy plays a crucial role in achieving significant results, including signed memoranda of understanding, collaboration with the private sector, and capacity building of institutions,” says Gihyeon Fabian Hong, project manager and researcher at KDI.
Looking ahead, she sees strong potential for deepening cooperation especially in the fields of green hydrogen energy, smart manufacturing, AI-based solutions for SMEs, and nuclear clean energy.
“Recent cooperation in business B2B networking – for example during the Korea–Austria Energy Week – has already brought tangible results. We also see potential for more institutional pilot projects such as digital maturity assessments or Industry 4.0 certification, which can bring immediate benefits and long-term partnerships,” adds Ms. Kim.
A human approach, continuity, and respect
Lucia Bogdanyová, Director of International Cooperation at SIEA, adds what she believes is behind the success of Slovak-Korean collaboration:
“It’s important to approach a project not just technically, but above all humanely. When partners feel that we genuinely care about the project – that it’s not just about formally ticking boxes, but about real cooperation – everything flows more easily.”
According to Bogdanyová, continuity plays a major role – regular exchange of information, personal presence, online communication, and an honest effort to understand the partner and build trust.“Not just through official channels, but also informally. That’s key.”
Regarding cultural differences, Lucia points out:
“In Korea, there’s a stronger emphasis on formality, hierarchy, and respect for authority. It’s important to understand that from the start and adjust both communication and expectations accordingly.”
“What’s worked for me is speaking openly – clearly stating expectations and continuously checking for mutual understanding. At the same time, showing respect for their approach, even if it’s different. This combination of openness, respect, and solid preparation helps manage differences without unnecessary friction.”
This kind of approach helps build strong, long-term partnerships – the foundation of successful international cooperation and effective innovation development.
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How does networking and clusters work?
Martin Svoboda explains that South Korea operates under a top-down innovation management model. The state clearly defines the direction, funding, and coordination of innovation ecosystems. Clusters there have professional management, a clear mandate, and stable funding, which enables them to operate effectively.
In Slovakia, the situation is quite the opposite — a bottom-up approach prevails, with cluster initiatives often emerging from grassroots efforts, frequently involving the civic sector. Korean partners appreciate this model as a complement to their own system, offering a great opportunity for mutual learning.
However, challenges remain for Slovak clusters — unstable funding, a lack of experts, and weak systematic support. Strengthening these areas could position Slovakia as an attractive partner for more ambitious bilateral projects.
International collaboration as a catalyst for innovation
In the development of cluster initiatives, international knowledge exchange proves to be an essential tool for strengthening the innovation ecosystem, especially for smaller companies and startups.
Mária Šurimová from Košice IT Valley emphasizes: “Internationalization helps improve service quality, expand the partner network, and open new opportunities in global markets. For smaller innovative companies that often lack the capacity to enter foreign markets independently, the cluster acts as a strong intermediary.”
There is also an interesting difference in how the concept of clusters is applied in different regions. In Slovakia, they primarily serve as platforms for cooperation among companies, universities, and research institutions. In South Korea, clusters are often physically concentrated in technology parks with strong government backing.
This level of concentration and emphasis on measurable results — jobs, exports, patents, and spin-offs — is a valuable inspiration for Košice IT Valley in refining how it evaluates its own activities.
Thanks to partnerships with organizations like the Global Digital Innovation Network or Jeonnan Technopark, Slovak startups are gaining direct connections to the Asian market, access to investors and technology partners, and the opportunity to prepare for expansion.
As interest in collaboration grows, there is significant potential to systematically connect Slovak and South Korean IT companies through stable platforms and matchmaking formats. Mária Šurimová sees this collaboration not only as a business opportunity, but also as a way to build trust and long-term partnerships between companies — even those that often compete with each other — which remains quite rare in the South Korean environment.
Strong connection between public and private sectors
Anna Čaplovičová, Director of INOVATO, highlights the strong connection between the public and private sectors in Korea — a model she aims to bring to Slovakia as well:
“We see great potential to apply some of these principles in our environment while laying the groundwork for collaboration with South Korean partners — whether through knowledge exchange or joint projects.”
New insights from the trip to South Korea have brought INOVATO into contact with an economic diplomat, with whom further cooperation is planned to explore specific opportunities for its members. INOVATO was also impressed by the activities of the Korea Development Institute (KDI), and aims to develop a future cooperation format to share expertise and foster innovation initiatives.
“These impulses will form the foundation of new INOVATO activities, opening up fresh opportunities and perspectives for our members,” Čaplovičová concludes.
Key to successful Slovak–Korean innovation collaboration
For Slovak partners, Ms. Seo Young Kim offers clear recommendations to significantly enhance bilateral cooperation. She stresses the importance of strong inter-agency coordination and clear communication channels between policymakers and technical experts.
According to her, introducing a simple mechanism to monitor the implementation of pilot projects and align business interests would significantly boost the sustainability of cooperation.
“On our side, we’re ready to co-create initiatives that are practical and locally relevant, and we highly value constructive feedback and proactive collaboration,” adds Hong.
Ms. Kim also expresses optimism about the further development of collaboration between Slovakia and South Korea in the fields of innovation, research, and development. She believes that shared interests in balanced regional development, digital transformation, and clean technologies provide a strong foundation for more structured partnerships.
“These may include stronger public–private connections, joint R&D grants, or even trilateral cooperation with other countries,” Kim explains, while also expressing her belief that this partnership has the potential to become a model for innovation collaboration between a developed country and an emerging EU member state.
The Korean path: From capital accumulation to balanced growth
The Knowledge Sharing Program 2024/25 is a bilateral initiative between the Slovak Innovation and Energy Agency and the Korea Development Institute. It creates a platform for knowledge exchange in the areas of innovation, regional development, digitalization, and green transformation. The aim is to prepare recommendations tailored to Slovakia’s specific context and contribute to a more effective innovation ecosystem.
The inspiration comes from South Korea’s story of economic transformation. After decades of rapid industrialization focused on exports and capital-intensive industries, Korea faced structural weaknesses that culminated in the 1997 Asian financial crisis. In response, the country adopted a balanced growth strategy emphasizing efficiency, innovation, and broader distribution of prosperity.
However, this transition deepened regional disparities. Automation and technological advances weakened traditional manufacturing regions, and China’s rise as a global manufacturing hub diminished the competitiveness of some Korean sectors. This created pressure to diversify regional economies and develop homegrown innovation potential.
Korea responded with a series of policies:
- Free Economic Zones (FEZ) to attract foreign capital,
- Innopolis — R&D-focused zones,
- Regional innovation clusters connecting businesses, universities, and municipalities.
The success of these tools depended heavily on local conditions. Incheon and Daedeok stood out due to strong research infrastructure and collaboration. Elsewhere, results lagged — often due to a lack of readiness for change.
What Does This Mean for Slovakia?
A Long-Term, Coordinated Strategy
Regional development requires a stable framework — aligning innovation, industrial, education, and regional policy.
Building Domestic Technological Capacity
After a period of reliance on foreign investment, it is vital to develop homegrown capabilities. This means systematic investment in research, development, and technology transfer.
Economic Diversification
An economy based on assembly has limited growth potential. Future growth must come from sectors such as green technologies, the circular economy, and digital services.
Support for SMEs
Small and medium-sized enterprises are the foundation of regional growth. Improving their access to innovation, finance, and export markets will strengthen the entire economy.
Reducing Regional Disparities
Development should be rooted in local potential and supported by public investment in infrastructure, education, and healthcare.
Slovakia faces similar challenges to those Korea encountered after its peak influx of foreign investment — reliance on manufacturing, weak diversification, regional disparities, and fragmented policies. The Korean example shows that a stable and coordinated approach delivers results. Developing innovation, human capital, and digital technologies is the key to sustainable growth.
TEXT: Natália Stašíková
PHOTO: INOVATO
📸 Korea & Slovakia: A shared yourney of innovation – moments from the visit to South Korea and the closing seminar in Bratislava
