[PLENARY SESSION 1]

U.S. Republic Policy Mentors Explain Trump's Thought Process

Immediately upon taking office, President Trump began imposing widespread tariff pressures, without regard to region or product.

Typically, raising tariffs results in higher prices for imported goods, thereby leading to inflation and negatively impacting American consumers. Consequently, some have raised questions about the rationale behind President Trump's actions and their outcomes. However, there have been positive developments: Under pressure, Mexico capitulated and promised to strengthen its border to combat drug trafficking, while Japan pledged large-scale investments worth USD 1 trillion (approximately KRW 1,400 trillion) in the United States, taking proactive measures.

According to experts, President Trump's tariff wars are strategically aimed at achieving multiple objectives: revitalizing the manufacturing industry in the U.S., safeguarding dollar dominance, and improving the trade balance through a weak dollar. Consequently, the forecast is that the U.S. may continue to employ tariffs as leverage, pressuring other nations to purchase U.S. Treasury bonds, furthering these goals. This underscores the importance of fully understanding the current dynamics and identifying opportunities within them.

Experts from the Heritage Foundation―a prominent think tank in the U.S. and a long-standing partner of K.E.Y. PLATFORM―who have offered key policy recommendations to the Trump administration, will be joining us once again this year.

In Plenary Session 1 on the first day, these experts will offer valuable insights, delving into the President's deeper intentions that have not been immediately apparent.

Korea's Opportunity in the Global AI Hegemony Competition

Until recently, nuclear power has served as the strongest weapon in securing global hegemony. Only a select group of major nations has been officially recognized as nuclear-armed states, and these countries have utilized nuclear weapons as pivotal strategic assets in the realms of national defense, security, diplomacy, and even economics.

At present, a new force is emerging that will dominate the global order: Artificial Intelligence (AI). Once again, the leading powers in this global race―the U.S. and China―are at the forefront. In a world where the absence of AI capabilities renders progress unfeasible, nations lacking this technology will inevitably be subjugated by those at the cutting edge of technology and standard-setting.

Korea is strategically positioned to emerge as a key player in the AI market. The nation possesses significant global competitiveness in essential AI infrastructure sectors, such as semiconductors and batteries, and is home to a wealth of talent capable of developing superior applications and services. In select domains, Korea is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping global standards and regulatory frameworks.

At K.E.Y. PLATFORM 2025, distinguished AI experts from both home and abroad will take the stage to deliberate on Korea's potential and the opportunities it faces in AI technology, policies, and the formation of global standards.

[PLENARY SESSION 2]

The New Narrative of K-Bio: Designing the Future in the Global Market
Korea's Bioindustry in Need of Fundamental Innovation and Differentiated Competitiveness

The global bioindustry is currently attracting substantial investments as a pivotal driver of national competitive advantage. Leveraging the Bioterrorism Act and tariff policies introduced during the Trump administration, the U.S. is reinforcing its ethnocentric approach, while China is rapidly growing and expanding its influence in the global market. Korea, too, has started to strategically nurture its bioindustry as a future growth engine.

Major venture capital firms (VCs) are focusing on new drug development, while technology VCs, traditionally concentrated on IT investments, are now broadening their portfolios to include the biosector. They are actively investing in areas such as brain-computer interfaces and AI for drug development. The outlook for 2025 suggests that while global bioindustry investments will increase overall compared to 2024, they are not expected to reach the peak levels seen in 2021. General investors are expected to re-enter the market between 2026 and 2027.

In 2028, Keytruda (with projected sales of $27 billion) and Opdivo (projected at $11 billion based on 2024 revenue) will lose their patent exclusivity. This represents a market opportunity 10 times larger than the 2024 sales of Samsung Biologics (KRW 4 trillion) and Celltrion (KRW 2 trillion). The anticipated shift in 2028 will prompt big pharma companies to focus on M&As or licensing agreements to facilitate new drug development, presenting potential opportunities for Korean bio companies.

For Korea's bioindustry to succeed, it must penetrate the global market. The domestic market is limited, and given the nature of the bioindustry, sustainable growth without global competition is unlikely. Fields such as new drug development require enormous investments and lengthy R&D periods, making a position in the global market essential for economic viability. Furthermore, collaboration and competition with global bio companies will offer Korea a chance to further enhance its technological capabilities.

What's noteworthy in the global bio market is the rise and achievements of Chinese biotech companies in advanced technology sectors like semiconductors and AI. These firms are leveraging skilled human resources to drastically reduce the time required for new drug development. While U.S. biotech companies may take 12 months to generate preclinical data, Chinese firms can accomplish the same in just 3 months. This highlights that the competitiveness of Chinese biotech is not a transient phenomenon.

The bioindustry is inherently long-term in nature, with results often taking more than a decade to materialize. Nevertheless, in the long run, the bioindustry is poised to create substantial value for the national economy. Korea's bioindustry stands at a critical juncture, where a reassessment of its strategy to maximize existing efficiency is necessary. It must secure fundamental innovation and differentiated competitiveness. During Plenary Session 2 on the second day of K.E.Y. PLATFORM 2025, we will draw a blueprint for the future trajectory of Korea’s bioindustry.

[SPECIAL SESSION 1]

Special Session on Science and Technology with KISTEP and KISTI
Strategies for the Future: Global Competition in National S&T Innovation

The year 2025 marks the beginning of the Trump administration's second term in the U.S., and the race for global high-tech supremacy has intensified. As the Trump administration pledges to prioritize America's interests and safeguard its hegemonic influence, growing concerns have emerged that Korea's high-tech industry may encounter challenges.

Global competition over critical technologies such as AI, semiconductors, and biotechnology has evolved beyond mere technological differences; it now encompasses the economic power and influence of nations. Future technologies, particularly AI, will serve as the bedrock of competitive advantage. Furthermore, our national security also depends on mastering advanced technologies like AI.

In this context, the development of national strategic technologies has become more important than ever. As the foundation of national competitiveness, it requires the concerted attention of government, academia, and the public. Moreover, the R&D infrastructure needed to advance these technologies must be further strengthened. Cultivating a highly skilled workforce, securing state-of-the-art research facilities, and invigorating collaboration between industry, academia, and government will be key to translating research outcomes into tangible innovations.

At this pivotal point in time that will shape our future, K.E.Y. PLATFORM has curated special sessions where you can directly engage with the ideas and strategies of KISTEP (Korea Institute of Science & Technology Planning and Evaluation) and KISTI (Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information), two of Korea's leading science and technology research institutions. Additionally, prominent global talents from the science and technology sector, such as those from the AI enterprises, will be joining us.

During K.E.Y. PLATFORM 2025, the Special Session on Science and Technology will present the latest research policies and technological innovation strategies, exploring the future direction of Korea's technological development. The session will serve as a platform for not only scientists and engineers but also policy leaders and enterprises to collaborate in shaping competitive strategies.

[SPECIAL SESSION 2]

The Crossroads of Opportunity and Crisis: "AI Revolution" and the "Big Move" of K-Artificial Intelligence
"AI Hegemony": In the Palm of Our Hand, or Will We Be in the Palm of Its Hand?

AI has transcended its status as a mere technology; it now plays a pivotal role in shaping national competitiveness and dominates entire industries. The rapid progression of "generative AI," the emergence of "autonomous AI agents," and the expansion of "hyper-scale AI" models are all calling for profound and fundamental change.

Nations worldwide have entered the race to seize AI technology. Korea, too, must reinforce its AI value chain and broaden its international collaborations. To explore the future trajectory of Korea’s AI industry, K.E.Y. PLATFORM 2025 has organized exclusive sessions featuring prominent global AI companies and experts.

AI technology is catalyzing innovation and redefining paradigms across various sectors, including finance, healthcare, manufacturing, logistics, and content. As AI becomes intrinsically linked to national security and economic sovereignty, the concept of sovereign AI is gaining increasing importance. Korea must strengthen its competitiveness by developing independent AI models and enhancing its capabilities in data utilization. Building the necessary AI infrastructure requires concerted efforts from the government, industry, and research institutions, including securing AI semiconductors and cloud infrastructure, while simultaneously seeking strategies to safeguard data sovereignty.

AI-driven innovation is accelerating in sectors such as semiconductors, mobility, healthcare, finance, and content. Multiple companies are leveraging AI to enhance productivity and generate novel business models. Consequently, AI is emerging as a decisive factor in determining corporate competitiveness. At K.E.Y. PLATFORM, we will present case studies of companies that are at the forefront of AI utilization. Discussions will span the entire AI value chain, encompassing AI semiconductors, data infrastructure, and investment in AI startups. We invite you to join the K.E.Y. PLATFORM AI Special Sessions, where we will design the future at the epicenter of AI innovation.

[SPECIAL SESSION 3]

K-startups Special Level-up Session with Unicorn Factory
Global Game-Changer Strategies for K-Startups

Startups are not merely small businesses; they are pivotal forces reshaping industries with innovative ideas and technologies at the forefront. Giants like Tesla, Google, Facebook (Meta), and Amazon all began as startups. In high-tech industries such as AI, biotechnology, fintech, and mobility, startups are transforming market dynamics by spearheading disruptive innovations that large, established corporations find difficult to pursue.

In collaboration with Unicorn Factory, an innovative media platform dedicated to supporting startups in their growth, K.E.Y. PLATFORM 2025 has organized a special session centered on the success and innovation of K-startups. Unicorn Factory, a startup-centric media outlet, was launched in April 2021 as Korea's first comprehensive daily newspaper dedicated to the startup ecosystem.

To discover and cultivate startups with strong global competitiveness, government support measures must be substantially expanded at every stage of their development. It is crucial to overhaul and eliminate regulations that hinder innovation, creating an environment where startups can thrive without constant concerns over funding. We must establish an ecosystem that nurtures a seamless and supportive business climate.

During this Special Session, we will envision the future of a global startup city, exploring innovative ideas to revitalize the startup ecosystem. We will analyze the local startup ecosystems in cities such as Sejong, Osong, Daegu, and Ulsan, and engage with both domestic and international experts to discuss the details required to transform these cities into "startup hub cities" that can stand out on the global stage in Asia.

The focal point of this Special Session is deep tech startups. As the race for global dominance intensifies, deep tech has emerged as a vital component in securing both national security and global leadership, transcending mere economic growth. To cultivate deep tech innovation in Korea, it is essential to reorganize the innovation growth paradigm and broaden the government's R&D system to encompass the entire science and technology cycle. We must establish a virtuous cycle of deep tech startups and growth, accelerating innovation with a focus on "Co-Creation." A holistic approach is necessary, including reforming funding structures, promoting intellectual property utilization, and driving regulatory innovations.

The Special Session with Unicorn Factory will explore how the startup ecosystem can effectively serve as a catalyst for deep tech companies. We will focus on the role of a "matching platform" that bridges public technology with market opportunities and also venture funding that fosters innovation in the commercialization of technologies developed by government-funded research institutes.