Birmingham and Ulsan deepen ties through strategic collaboration and shared innovation goals
As part of Birmingham Tech Week 2025, the city welcomed a business delegation from Ulsan, Republic of Korea –including entrepreneurs, and innovation leaders—for a multi-day programme of strategic engagement. The visit marked a major milestone in the Birmingham-Ulsan Innovation Twin Partnership, supported by the UKRI funded DIATOMIC project, and showcased the power of city-to-city connections in driving global innovation.
Strategic partnership
The visit was anchored in a shared ambition to build a long-term innovation-led partnership that delivers real-world impact. Birmingham City Council opened the Innovation Forum with the “10Ps of Transnational Cooperation”—a strategic framework for building scalable, resilient international relationships. From diplomacy to delivery, Birmingham positioned itself as a thought leader in modern city diplomacy.
Throughout the week, the delegation engaged with local ecosystem builders exploring how cities like Birmingham and Ulsan can act as testbeds for innovation and economic growth. The partnership was framed not just as a regional initiative, but as a delivery mechanism for national strategies in clean energy, smart cities, and industrial transformation.
Innovation in action: SMEs and research
The visit featured dynamic exchanges between Korean and Birmingham-based SMEs, beginning with the “Meet the Innovators” session. This matchmaking event sparked meaningful connections and laid the groundwork for future collaboration in sectors such as clean tech, mobility, and digital health.
At the Innovation Forum, Birmingham’s innovation ecosystem was on full display. Panel discussions showcased market-ready solutions from the cybersecurity and clean energy sectors, as well as highlighting how DIATOMIC funding has enabled smart city technologies—from damp-detection sensors in homes to wearables that prevent falls among older adults.
Academic institutions played a central role. Aston University shared new collaborations with Ulsan-based company Emotive to explore ADHD detection wearables, and with UNIST to deepen R&D links. Birmingham City University presented work on federated data an SME training, while the University of Birmingham highlighted clean energy projects accelerated through international collaboration.
Scaling up and internationalisation
The partnership’s commercial dimension was brought to life in sessions focused on SME scale-up and transnational commercialisation. West Midlands Combined Authority and TechWM outlined export incentives and support structures for high-growth businesses, while UCCEI (Ulsan’s Center for Creative Economy and Innovation) introduced its soft-landing programme for green-tech companies entering the South Korean market.
South Korean SMEs Synergy and eFlow presented their ambitions to enter the UK market, while alumni from the DIATOMIC India Accelerator shared powerful testimonials on how structured international support helped them grow and globalise. These stories demonstrated the value of curated international pathways and the potential for inbound investment.
Vision for the future: building long-term impact
The final session of the Innovation Forum focused on sustainability and strategic foresight. Institutional leaders from Birmingham’s universities and city council outlined a vision for evolving the partnership into a permanent economic corridor.
Discussions centred on embedding internationalisation into university core objectives, creating structured frameworks for collaboration, and securing joint funding for future initiatives. A new postdoctoral programme focused on smart cities and smart health was announced—a tangible step towards building on shared strengths.
The message was clear: momentum is key. From academic exchange to industrial collaboration, Birmingham and Ulsan are committed to moving forward.
A model for modern city diplomacy
The Birmingham-Ulsan Innovation Twin Partnership is more than a project—it’s a replicable model for how cities can collaborate to deliver economic growth, technological advancement, and shared prosperity. As Birmingham continues to lead on global innovation, this partnership stands as a testament to the power of strategic, city-led cooperation.
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