Global investors are paying closer attention to the intersection of AI and climate technology, and Korea is stepping forward with its own platform. The 2025 ClimateTech Startup Summit in Jeju convened 150 leaders from startups, VCs, corporates, and government to discuss how capital flows, policy, and innovation can unite. This event becomes another signal for investors how AI–ClimateTech convergence is shaping the future of sustainable technology.
AI Meets Climate Tech at 2025 ClimateTech Startup Summit in Jeju
The 2025 ClimateTech Startup Summit opened in Jeju on September 4, positioning itself as Korea’s largest platform dedicated to climate-focused artificial intelligence (AI).
Organized by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) in partnership with Kakao Impact and Sopoong Ventures, the event ran alongside the APEC SME Ministerial Meeting at the Jeju International Convention Center.
First launched in 2022 and co-hosted since 2023, the 4th edition has drawn 284 participants from 166 institutions over its first three years. The 2025 ClimateTech Startup Summit brought together about 150 attendees, including ClimateTech startups, global investors, major corporations, and government policymakers, underscoring Korea’s growing role in climate innovation.
Highlight on Climate AI and Sustainable Futures
The summit opened with a keynote by Park Sung-hyun, CEO of Rebellions, titled “Redefining Climate AI Technologies for a Sustainable Future.”
Park highlighted the importance of low-power AI semiconductors, such as Rebellions’ ATOM chip, in reducing energy consumption and building sustainable AI infrastructure — a growing priority as AI workloads expand globally.
Discussions across sessions addressed:
- Global climate crisis trends,
- The flow of climate-related capital,
- Policy frameworks supporting ClimateTech startups,
- Structuring technology ecosystems for climate action in the era of generative AI.
Investors, Startups, and Policymakers in Dialogue at 2025 ClimateTech Startup Summit
Promising domestic and international ClimateTech startups joined with investment institutions to present global investment trends, case studies of policy collaboration, and commercialization opportunities linked to national climate strategies.
Participants explored how the convergence of AI and ClimateTech can drive not only technology innovation but also shifts in markets, regulations, and capital allocation.
Ryu Seok-young, Executive Director of Kakao Impact, emphasized the importance of cooperation:
“For AI technologies to become true Tech for Good in solving the climate crisis, multi-layered connections among experts are essential. We hope this summit serves as a platform for broader exchanges that translate potential into real change.”
Han Sang-yeop, CEO of Sopoong Ventures, added:
“The convergence of AI and ClimateTech opens possibilities that extend beyond technical innovation. It can catalyze transformation in systems, markets, and investments. We expect startups to use this summit to explore concrete models of collaboration.”
Korea’s Push for Global ClimateTech Collaboration
MSS underscored that the summit is part of a broader strategy to strengthen the global competitiveness of Korean ClimateTech startups.
By working with APEC, the ministry aims to promote joint research, cross-border investment, and talent exchange among member economies, establishing ClimateTech as a pillar of international startup collaboration.
Minister Han Seong-sook remarked:
“We hope this summit will become a catalyst for APEC-wide cooperation in research, investment, and human capital exchange. The ministry will continue to support the ClimateTech startup ecosystem so Korean innovators can build sustainable competitiveness on the global stage.”
Policy and Capital: 2025 ClimateTech Summit Signals Korea’s Global Ambition
The 2025 ClimateTech Startup Summit in Jeju represents the alignment of government, impact investors, and global capital in preparing startups for systemic challenges ahead.
With AI–ClimateTech convergence now at the center of discussions, this 2025 summit underscores Korea’s ambition to embed its startups in the global green technology ecosystem.
– Stay Ahead in Korea’s Startup Scene –
Get real-time insights, funding updates, and policy shifts shaping Korea’s innovation ecosystem.
➡️ Follow KoreaTechDesk on LinkedIn, X (Twitter), Threads, Bluesky, Telegram, Facebook, and WhatsApp Channel.
