Core Insights - The Global Innovation Forum, organized by the Seoul Business Agency, is a significant event aimed at enhancing the global startup ecosystem through international collaboration [1][5] - The event featured a startup competition and networking program, marking the first country-based initiative at CES, with participation from seven leading countries [2][4] Event Overview - The Global Innovation Forum was held on January 7, 2026, as part of CES, and aimed to connect startup ecosystems across countries [3] - The initiative evolved from the Seoul Innovation Forum launched in 2025, showcasing the potential for country-to-country cooperation [4] Competition Details - The event included an IR pitching competition where startups from each participating country presented their innovations to judges [6][10] - This year, the judging panel included both global media and venture capital professionals, enhancing the credibility and investment opportunities for startups [7][8] Awards and Recognition - The Grand Award was won by Firsthabit from the Seoul Pavilion, with prize money of USD 3,000, while Hua Tech International and CubicSpace received second and third places, respectively [10] - Winning startups expressed intentions to leverage their recognition for market entry, particularly into the U.S. [11] Networking Opportunities - The networking session was significantly enhanced compared to previous years, facilitating exchanges among VCs, media, and startups [12][13] - Startups were given opportunities for one-minute PR speeches to introduce their technologies, which received positive feedback [14] Future Aspirations - The Seoul Business Agency aims for the Global Innovation Forum to become a key platform for cross-country cooperation and global startup exchange at CES [15]