Factory's Post 🇪🇺 #13

Factory's Post is back to deliver the insights you need for your business growth.💡 We've gathered the latest business trends, useful information for market entry, and hot news from the Korea-Europe ecosystem!

123 Factory has been selected as the first Korean accelerator to become an official partner of EIT Climate-KIC’s “ClimAccelerator”—Europe’s largest climate innovation initiative!

Climate-KIC is an EU-backed organisation and Europe’s leading innovation community tackling the climate crisis through systems innovation. Through this partnership, 123 Factory can now directly connect Korean startups to 'ClimAccelerator', a global climate-tech programme.

Our DeepTech ClimAccelerator KOR-GER 2026 aims to help promising Korean deep tech and climate tech startups build credible climate impact evidence for the European market and strengthen overall business readiness.

🚀 DeepTech ClimAccelerator KOR-GER 2026 — 5 Selected Startups

These are the teams ready to prove global competitiveness—beyond Europe’s stringent environmental regulations and sustainability standards.

• TEXNIC(RightRoute): Upcycled materials that transform EV waste-battery separators into high-performance fibers

• FUST Lab: Ultrasonic nano-emulsification technology without chemical additives

• BANF: Real-time analysis of road and tire conditions to help reduce carbon emissions

• DAY1LAB: 100% biodegradable plastic-alternative packaging materials

• MULE(KLIO Design): Sustainable mobility design solutions 

🌍 What makes this programme special?

1. Korea’s first official partnership with Climate-KIC

Aligned with the EU’s Green Deal and Fit for 55 agenda, this is significant because 123 Factory is the first Korean organisation to join the ClimAccelerator ecosystem as an operating partner—an ecosystem historically led by European institutions.

2. Not just market entry, but building credibility 

To succeed in Europe, it’s not enough to have strong technology—your climate impact must meet EU expectations. This programme combines 123 Factory’s localisation expertise with Climate-KIC’s proven framework to strengthen both impact credibility and business readiness.

3. A practical roadmap for entering Europe

The five selected startups will receive intensive support over ~7 months, including:

• Phase 1 (Assessment & Due Diligence): Building a climate impact logic aligned with European standards (e.g., LCA) and conducting technical due diligence

• Phase 2 (Acceleration): Finding partners in Germany, defining go-to-market strategy, and designing PoCs

• Phase 3 (Demo Day): Demo Day for the Climate-KIC global network

Stay tuned as 123 Factory and these five teams explore what Korean deep tech can unlock in Europe’s climate transition.

Want to collaborate with ClimAccelerator or meet the five selected startups behind the solutions? Reach out — let’s make cross-border climate impact happen. 🌱

R&D

🔬 The Next Focus Areas: Where Korea Is Placing Its 2026 R&D Bets

South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT has finalized its 2026 “Core Source Technology” implementation plan, committing KRW 235.1B (USD 160M) across 27 projects spanning semiconductors, displays, and batteries. The roadmap targets strategic building blocks such as PIM, compound semiconductors, advanced packaging, fine substrates, and 3D DRAM, alongside next-wave display and battery technologies.

For Europe-based founders and industry players watching Korea’s direction of travel, this signals where partnership and market pull will concentrate: deeper R&D in optical computing semiconductors, advanced ceramic materials for packaging/power semis, software-defined vehicle (SDV) automotive semiconductor IP, plus battery bets like AZB/SIB/LMB and a new push into recycled aluminum–air batteries for future mobility. MSIT also highlights international collaboration—strengthening ties with global fabs (including IMEC in Europe) and planning a Korea–EU researchers’ forum in Europe in the first half of the year, with NRF posting detailed application timelines by end of January. (msit.go.kr)

Investment

💸 Korea’s Startup Funding Shows a “V-Shaped” Turn Into 2026

Korea’s startup investment market is showing signs of a reset—not a boom, but a clear rebound in momentum. In 2025, total funding reached KRW 5.914T, and while the annual figure stayed roughly flat, the story was the second-half surge: KRW 3.8T in H2 vs. KRW 2.12T in H1. AI remained the dominant theme, while Bio/Healthcare led by funding share (25%), reflecting investors’ preference for validated tech and clearer monetisation. 

Early 2026 signals the same direction: January logged 94 deals worth KRW 435.9B, with early-stage rounds rising to 39% (up from ~29% previously), suggesting more capital is moving back into new bets. Large tickets still cluster in priority areas—of 16 deals above KRW 10B, 12 fell into “ABCDEF” strategic sectors (AI, Bio, Content, Defence, Energy, Future Manufacturing). For European founders and operators watching Korea, this points to a market that is selective—but reopening, especially for deeptech with credible traction and global scalability. (Platum)

Careers

💄 K-Beauty’s Hiring Boom Is Opening Doors for Global Growth Talent

If you’re a Europe-based operator looking for a Korea move—especially in sales, marketing, or channel expansion—K-Beauty may be one of the most practical entry points right now. Hiring data from Remember shows beauty companies accounted for 16% of all scouting offers sent to Korea’s top 10% professionals in 2025, a standout share for a single sector.

What’s driving the surge is simple: execution for global scale. The most targeted roles were sales (30%), marketing (27%), and distribution/merchandising (13%)—the exact functions needed to build overseas pipelines, partnerships, and retail/e-commerce channels across regions including Europe. For European startup teams exploring Korea collaborations, this also signals a mature ecosystem where consumer brands are actively investing in international go-to-market capability, not just product hype. 

In other words, K-Beauty is shifting from “product-led growth” to “people-led globalisation”—and that creates real career runway for globally minded talent who can drive revenue and expansion. (koreatechdesk.com)

Meet New Startups!

We'd like to take a moment to introduce you to some of the startups that will be joining us in the coming days. Today, we introduce you to TEXNIC(RightRoute), an innovative startup turning discarded EV battery separators into high-performance textile materials.

♻️ EV Battery Separators, Reborn as Performance Textiles

TEXNIC is the first to transform battery separators—high-performance polyethylene films typically discarded—into textile-grade materials, using proprietary processes that convert the separator into fabric (laminating) and yarn (slitting). Their lamination preserves the separator’s microporous structure to achieve breathability + waterproofness + wind resistance, while staying PFAS-free by design.

From outdoor and lifestyle fabrics to industrial and mobility-grade use cases, TEXNIC’s portfolio includes textiles made “with battery separator” composites—and even separator-derived yarn-based materials engineered for lightweight durability. If you’re exploring sustainable materials partnerships in Europe (performance apparel, mobility interiors, or advanced textiles), TEXNIC is a compelling proof point that circularity can outperform.

Upcoming Events

• InterBattery 2026 
  11-13 Mar | Seoul, Korea | Battery
  The world’s leading battery exhibition representing the entire industry chain, from materials and components to advanced cell manufacturing and EV battery technology.

• SECON 2026
  18-20 Mar | Ilsan, Korea | Security
  Asia’s largest integrated security exhibition, bringing together physical security, cybersecurity, and smart safety solutions with conferences and industry networking.

• KIMES
  19-22 Mar | Seoul, Korea | Medical
  Korea’s largest medical & hospital equipment show, showcasing medical devices, hospital infrastructure, imaging/diagnostics, and digital health innovations for global buyers and partners.

• ICPI Week 2026
  31 Mar - 3 Apr | Ilsan, Korea | Bio, Chemical, Pharma
  A multi-exhibition B2B platform at KINTEX covering lab/analysis, chemicals, pharma-bio manufacturing, and related industrial equipment, designed for sourcing and cross-industry matchmaking.

Thank you for reading Factory’s Post!
We’re always open to exciting news, promotions, and proposals to share with the 123 community. Feel free to contact [email protected], we’d love to hear from you! 😀