South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy will hold "Nanokorea 2026" from July 8 to 10 at the first exhibition hall of KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province.

Nanokorea, now in its 24th year, is an academia-industry exchange event that shares research trends in nanotechnology and introduces advanced nanotechnology and products. This year, about 1,200 researchers from South Korea and abroad and more than 400 companies will take part under the theme "Nano x AI that makes the future."

At the opening ceremony on July 8, a total of 14 awards, including the prime minister's award and ministerial awards, will be presented to researchers and companies from industry, academia and research institutes that contributed to innovation in nanotechnology research and the development of the nano-convergence industry. Jin-young Kim (김진영), a professor at Seoul National University, will receive the prime minister's award in the research category, and Newrizon will receive it in the industry category.

Keynote speeches will be delivered by Ju Li (주 리), a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the United States, on "AI and the future of scientific research," and Sang-yeob Park (박상엽), chief technology officer at LG CNS, on "The future of physical AI-based nano and advanced industries."

During the event, the conference will feature expert lectures across 14 detailed technology areas, including nano devices, nano energy, nano bio and AI nanomaterials. A poster session with participation by early-career researchers from 28 countries will present and exhibit a total of 1,092 papers.

The exhibition consists of eight areas: nano convergence, advanced ceramics, smart sensors, adhesives, coatings and films, lasers, additive manufacturing, bio, and measurement and instrumentation. A total of 401 companies and institutions from eight countries, including Samsung Electronics and the LG Group, will set up 674 booths to showcase related technologies and products.

A special exhibition will introduce results from government research and development projects. The theme hall will focus on graphene technologies and products. Technical presentations by participating companies and one-on-one consultations for overseas buyers and investors will also be held.

Park In-gyu (박인규), head of the Science and Technology Innovation Office at the Ministry of Science and ICT, said nano is a convergence technology that turns the impossible into the possible and a foundational technology that becomes the soil for new discoveries. He said the ministry would continue policy efforts to support the era of a major AI transformation.

Choi Woo-hyuk (최우혁), director general for advanced industry policy at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, said the answers to faster computing, lower power use and lower heat generation demanded by AI also lie in nano. He said the ministry would focus its policy capabilities so the market trusts and chooses excellent technologies.