South Korean blockchain companies at a European ICT exhibition signed joint commercialisation contracts and memorandums of understanding for technology and export cooperation, and won an award at a global startup competition.

The Ministry of Science and ICT on Monday held a follow-up meeting at SpaceShare Seoul Station Center with companies that participated in GITEX AI Europe 2026 to discuss results from their expansion into Europe and support measures.

GITEX AI Europe is the European edition of GITEX, the Middle East's largest ICT exhibition. The ministry, together with the Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA), the city of Busan and the city of Daegu, set up a "Blockchain Korea Pavilion" at the event held in Berlin from June 30 to July 1 and supported the participation of 23 South Korean companies.

Participating companies held a total of 957 consultations during the exhibition. Of those, 286 were related to exports and investment. Save the Farms signed a joint commercialisation contract with a German climate tech company for a global carbon credit trading system. Leadpoint System signed a technology cooperation agreement with a United Arab Emirates delivery platform company on carbon credit data management technology based on electric vehicle delivery services.

MarinaChain placed third overall in the Supernova Challenge, a global startup IR competition. It advanced to the final round as the only Asian company after beating odds of 43.3 to 1, and received prize money of 10,000 euros.

At the meeting, participants shared cases in which existing blockchain demonstration projects were linked to overseas expansion. MarkAny has built a decentralised identity (DID) and PDF-based digital certificate platform in Semarang, Indonesia, based on KISA's blockchain demonstration project for the private sector.

Companies taking part in the meeting said the European market is being shaped around technology cooperation, joint research and development and local demonstrations rather than simple product sales. They also said there is a need for advice on responding to European regulations, follow-up matching with buyers and investors, and support linking local demonstrations with commercialisation.

The ministry said it will prepare follow-up measures to support entry into overseas markets, local demonstrations, investment attraction and commercialisation, based on industry input. It will also continue to operate a "Team Korea" cooperation system with Busan, Daegu and KISA.

Lee Do-kyu (이도규), director general for ICT policy at the ministry, said, "We have confirmed European market interest in the technology and services of South Korean blockchain companies and the possibility of localisation." He added, "We will expand the foundation for entering overseas markets by supporting participation in the FinTech Festival to be held in Singapore in November."