Korea’s global startup diplomacy is turning into tangible infrastructure. The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) has joined hands with HP to bring Silicon Valley’s “garage innovation” model to Korean soil. Through the AroundX global open innovation program, the partnership will enable Korean startups in AI and data science to build, test, and scale with real-world access to HP’s global networks and technology base.
MSS and HP Sign MOU to Accelerate AI and Data Startups
Vice Minister Noh Yong-seok of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups met with David McQuarrie, Chief Commercial Officer of HP Inc., at HP’s U.S. headquarters on January 9 (local time) to discuss collaboration in the startup sector.
Following the meeting, the Korea Institute of Startup and Entrepreneurship Development (KISED) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with HP to jointly operate the AroundX Global Corporate Collaboration Program, marking HP’s official participation in the initiative starting 2026.
Under the agreement, both sides will strengthen cooperation to enhance the global competitiveness of Korean startups in AI and data science and support their entry into international markets through HP Garage 2.0, the company’s global open innovation and startup acceleration platform.
The Garage Spirit Meets AroundX
HP’s participation represents more than a corporate alliance, reflecting a bridge between Korea’s policy-driven innovation model and Silicon Valley’s entrepreneurial DNA.
HP has operated its “HP Garage 2.0” program to cultivate startups based on the founding spirit of its 1939 Palo Alto garage, long regarded as the birthplace of Silicon Valley. The program connects early-stage innovators to HP’s R&D infrastructure and commercialization expertise across the global market.
By localizing HP Garage 2.0 through AroundX, the MSS aims to translate the symbolic “garage innovation” culture into a structured Korean model—where startups receive both policy backing and corporate collaboration under a single framework.
Statements from the Stakeholders on the Partnerships
David McQuarrie, Chief Commercial Officer of HP, said:
“Korea has one of the most dynamic ecosystems in AI and data science. Through this partnership, we will leverage HP’s global network and technological capabilities to collaborate with outstanding Korean startups and create new innovation opportunities.”
Noh Yong-seok, First Vice Minister of SMEs and Startups, stated:
“It is deeply meaningful to work with HP, a company that embodies the entrepreneurial spirit that created Silicon Valley. Through the AroundX ‘HP Garage 2.0’ program, we aim to help Korean startups expand globally and foster the next generation of world-class companies.”
How AroundX Becomes the Core of Korea’s Global Innovation Network
The AroundX Program, launched by the MSS in 2019, has grown into one of Korea’s most comprehensive public–private platforms for cross-border startup cooperation. It connects domestic startups with multinational corporations such as NVIDIA, Microsoft, AWS, Oracle, and Intel, enabling proof-of-concept (PoC) projects, co-marketing, and localized R&D collaboration.
With HP joining alongside OpenAI, Mercedes-Benz, and Astellas, the program now extends across AI, mobility, and biotechnology. AroundX’s evolution represents Korea’s broader transition from isolated pilot projects to ecosystem-level global partnerships—where collaboration becomes an operating model, not a single event.
Transforming Startup Diplomacy into Global Infrastructure
HP’s collaboration with the MSS marks a deeper layer of Korea’s global startup expansion strategy. It moves policy cooperation beyond memorandums and conferences into sustained, structural partnerships.
For AI and data startups, this alliance provides practical access to HP’s research ecosystem and international markets, while for Korea, it symbolizes the transformation of its startup policy from government-driven support to co-owned global execution.
Industry analysts view the AroundX–HP partnership as a case study in how governments can transform startup diplomacy into global infrastructure—linking Korea’s venture ecosystem to the innovation networks of Silicon Valley, Europe, and beyond.
Turning Policy into Practice
The Korea–HP partnership demonstrates that global innovation is no longer confined to regional clusters. By embedding HP Garage 2.0 into Korea’s AroundX framework, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups is creating a new template for public–private co-development.
For Korean founders and investors, this partnership represents access not just to mentorship but to the infrastructure of global commercialization. It also reaffirms Korea’s trajectory toward becoming a deep-tech hub of the Asia-Pacific, where government policy, corporate innovation, and startup ambition meet in a shared ecosystem of scale.
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