CES 2026, the world’s largest innovative new technology exhibition, held under the catchphrase “Innovators Show Up,” wrapped up a four-day run in Las Vegas on Jan. 9. AI technology was the subject of great attention before the opening of the fair.
Thirty-eight Korean institutions, including the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) and Korea Trade Promotion Agency (KOTRA) joined forces on the “Integrated Korea Pavilion,” which attracted 470 exhibitors, the biggest-ever number.
Overall, about 1,000 Korean companies set up booths to showcase their technologies at CES 2026.
At CES 2026, the scope of the exhibitions was expanded to education tech, tourism, logistics/supply chains, and film sector.
CES has been evolving into AI-based B2B total solution exhibition beyond a home appliance and ICT fair.
In this vein, as for the exhibition of the Integrated Korea Pavilion, AI ranked first with a 21 percent share, followed by digital health with 16 percent, smart city/smart home with 11 percent, sustainability/energy with 10 percent and mobility with 9 percent.
The pavilion accommodated 102 Korean exhibitors out of 470 companies participating in the new exhibition sectors of CES, such as education tech and beauty tech.
Global company officials participating at CES 2026 looked around the Integrated Korea Pavilion and showed their willingness toward cooperation in technology and investment.
The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) of the United States, the organizer of CES, presented Korea’s keyword “Innovation Density” and evaluated that Korean exhibitors realized innovative value chains encompassing R&D, verification and commercialization at the exhibition site.
AI, mobility and digital health innovation company exhibitors displayed processes of commercializing basic research stage ideas via applied deep tech at the pavilion, attracting buyers’ attention.
Senior officials of global companies, such as Meta, Apple, Qualcomm, Google and Amazon toured the Integrated Korea Pavilion.
A view of the “Integrated Korea Pavilion”, set up by Korea Trade Promotion Agency (KOTRA), at CES 2026, which took place in Las Vegas from Jan. 6 to Jan. 9. (Photos: KOTRA)
The CEO of Bosch, who toured the pavilion, said he could confirm the future of eye tracking, and he showed interest in the possibility of cooperating with i-Chips, a Korean innovative company.
The CEO of Doctors Biotech, one of the exhibitors at the pavilion, said the buyers who he met at CES 2026 expressed their concern about the digital health sector, particularly, and he expressed high expectations for global market entry, saying that his company not only explored partners necessary for a market entry to the United States but also held meetings to negotiate exports worth $2 million with investors, such as Morgan Stanley.
MOTIR and KOTRA conducted on-the-spot marketing and potential partner connectivity activities to raise outcomes of exhibitors of the Integrated Korea Pavilion.
They further held “K Innovation Pitching Challenge” in which Korean AI innovation companies made a technology presentation and held one-on-one meetings with global companies, such as 3M and Walmart, and potential investors, such as Mangusta Capital and Morgan Stanley in attendance for two days from Jan. 7.
The event followed signing ceremonies for MOUs with about 100 companies, including foreign buyers and venture capital companies.
During the fair, 470 exhibitors of the pavilion achieved outcomes – holding 2,480 one-on-one consultation meetings, striking 23 MOUs and contracts worth $240 million and seeking to strike contracts worth $790 million.
“CES AI Innovation Plaza,” a follow-up to CES 2026, will take place at COEX in Samseong-dong, Seoul, on Jan. 21.
The event inviting CES innovation award winning companies is designed to advance export commercialization and technology cooperation explored at CES 2026.
It comprises of “CES 2026 Debriefing Seminar,” “AI Innovative Pitching and Networking,” and “Innovation Award Winning Company Showcase.”
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