Seoul Hosts APK 2026 Business Conference
The three-day Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business brought together 800 leaders from Germany and the Asia-Pacific region.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Financial Services
The 19th Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business, APK 2026, was held in Seoul from Thursday to Saturday at the Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas. The event brought together 800 business leaders, policymakers, and industry representatives from Germany and the Asia-Pacific region.
Why it matters
The conference provides a forum for cross-regional business engagement between Germany and the Asia-Pacific. Its AI-focused sessions, including a startup pitch showcase, highlight growing attention to artificial intelligence in manufacturing and related sectors.
The Korea Night drew 500 participants representing 120 companies, and the Friday pitch session featured five startups from India, Korea, Singapore, Vietnam, and China. No financial deal values or market figures were reported from the event.
The players
Anna Maria Braun
Chief executive of B.Braun, a German medical technology company, who led the Friday startup pitch session at APK 2026.
Youn Byeng-dong
Korean official who presented the government's M.AX initiative for manufacturing artificial intelligence transformation at the conference.
The details
Youn Byeng-dong presented the Korean government's M.AX initiative for manufacturing artificial intelligence transformation. Enfarm, a Vietnamese startup specializing in AI-enabled agriculture, won the top award in a live business pitch session led by Stefan Rouenhoff and Anna Maria Braun, CEO of B.Braun.
Timeline
Thursday evening: Deutsche Bank welcome reception at the Shilla Seoul.
Friday: Korea Night at the Westin Seoul Parnas and the live startup pitch session.
Saturday morning: Startup session emphasizing communication and cooperation over coffee.
Saturday evening: Sundowner party following the official closing of APK 2026.
Market Landscape
APK 2026 is the 19th edition of the Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business, an annual series that has built a long-running platform for German firms engaging the Asia-Pacific region. This year's emphasis on artificial intelligence reflects a broader shift in regional business dialogue toward AI-driven manufacturing and startup collaboration.
Business professionals interested in Germany-Asia-Pacific trade can track follow-up startup partnerships and government initiatives like M.AX as they develop. The conference's pitch format offers a model for how emerging firms may seek regional visibility.
The takeaway
Cross-regional forums like APK 2026 illustrate how artificial intelligence is becoming a central topic in Germany-Asia-Pacific business relations. Startups from multiple countries are gaining direct access to established corporate and government audiences through structured pitch sessions.
Further reading
For broader context on cross-border business activity, explore the Financial Services section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Korea Herald.
