The University of Utah Asia Campus (UAC) successfully hosted the inaugural Utah–Korea Global Innovation Forum from September 25 to 27, 2025, in Songdo, Incheon, marking the 5th anniversary of its Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) program. The event served as a platform for academic, industrial, and government leaders from both Korea and Utah to foster long-term collaboration in research, technology, and innovation.

The forum brought together around 80 participants, including experts, entrepreneurs, and policymakers, to explore opportunities for Korea–Utah partnerships in innovation. The opening ceremony featured welcoming remarks by Dr. Hanseop Kim, Chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Utah, followed by greetings from Dr. Charles Musgrave, Dean of the John and Marcia Price College of Engineering at the University of Utah, and Dr. Gregory Hill, Chief Administrative Officer of UAC. Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok of Incheon Metropolitan City delivered a congratulatory message via video, emphasizing the significance of international cooperation in innovation, while Utah State Representative Jil Koford also extended her congratulations.

Keynote speeches were delivered by Yoon Won-seok, Commissioner of the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority (IFEZA), and Jefferson Moss, Executive Commissioner of the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity (GOEO), highlighting the strengths and potential of Incheon and Utah as global innovation hubs.

Throughout the three-day forum, distinguished speakers such as Ken Muir (CEO, Delicious AI) and Dr. Jacob George (Director, Utah NeuroRobotics Lab) shared their insights on cutting-edge research and technology collaboration. Panel discussions covered themes like “The Future and Importance of Transnational Partnerships” and “R&D  Collaborations and Entrepreneurial Opportunities at the University of Utah.”
Participants also engaged in 1:1 networking sessions connecting government, industry, venture capital, and academia, while UAC students showcased their research projects alongside technology exhibits from Korean and U.S. companies.

From Korea, innovative companies including Airmon, AI Dasibitnal L, Medicell Healthcare, GBrain, Wemov, Voinosis, MalGwaHakNoriTeo, and Samsung SDI participated. U.S.-based firms such as DeliciousAI, Fresh Consulting, SimpleCitizen, and Ionic Mineral Technologies (Ionic MT) also joined the event. A networking dinner hosted by the World Trade Center Utah further promoted cross-border collaboration.

Dr.Hanseop Kim noted,

This forum was not only a celebration of the 5th anniversary of the UAC’s ECE program, but also a step toward expanding the Asia campus’s engagement with Korean academia and industry. We plan to establish research centers to strengthen cooperation with Incheon-based companies and contribute to solving global challenges through innovation.”

Dr. Gregory Hill, UAC’s Chief Administrative Officer, added,

The forum commemorates the achievements of our ECE program over the past five years and opens new pathways for innovation between Korea and Utah.”