South Korea is a strong business partner for Denmark and a significant global player in a wide range of areas. Both South Korea and Denmark have ambitious plans within green energy. This creates good synergy opportunities between Danish and Korean authorities, research institutions and companies. In 2012, the Danish Ministry of Hiogher Education and Science (UFM) entered into a bilateral agreement with the Korean Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (now Ministry of Science and ICT). The agreement is part of the overall Danish-Korean strategic partnership and has paved the way for student exchanges, joint research projects, mutual research stays, scientific workshops and conferences between the two countries.
There is also a 2021 cooperation agreement with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries on polar research collaboration. And in September 2023, UFM and EM signed a cooperation agreement on entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship with the Ministry of SMEs and Startups.
UFM has an innovation center in Seoul, which promotes access to local knowledge and networks.
In March 2024, South Korea concluded negotiations with the European Commission to join the EU's Horizon Europe research and innovation program from 2025. South Korea is the first Asian country to join Horizon Europe. UFM, Innovation Fund Denmark and the Korean Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT) also collaborate under EUREKA. For example, Innovation Fund Denmark has signed a cooperation agreement with KIAT, which provides grants for business-oriented research and development.