By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo

The Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KGCCI, President & CEO Martin Henkelmann) awarded Henkel Consumer Brands Korea, Medipixel Inc., Pebble-Square, and Petnow Inc. as innovators of the year at the ‘10th KGCCI Innovation Awards’ on November 8 at Banyan Tree Club and Spa Hotel in Seoul, Korea on Nov. 8, 2024.

This milestone event, officially supported by the Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) and Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS), the KGCCI Innovation Awards, launched in 2015, are to support companies that create value in the Korean market through innovative products, processes, and technologies, while also promoting new business collaborations between Korea and Germany. This year’s event was sponsored by Henkel Korea, Merck Korea, Robert Bosch Korea, and Siemens Korea. 

The awards selection was based on five criteria: △Degree of innovation △Proven market success △Influence on company △Benefit for society △Diversity and inclusion by a Korean-German panel of distinguished judges from business, academia, and research. 

The event featured special guests, including Ban Ki-moon, President of the Assembly & Chair of the Council of the Global Green Growth Institute and the 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations and the keynote speaker, Nils Müller, CEO and Founder of TRENDONE and Juror of the KGCCI Innovation Awards, who highlighted the transformative impact of AI technology on business innovation.  

Ban Ki-moon underscored the critical need for collaborative action, stating, “I have said many times that the existential threat of the climate crisis is too big for governments to tackle alone: we need governments, companies, research institutions, and civil society groups to all work together. In this regard, I would like to express my appreciation to all the supporters who help to build a sustainable future from within the private sector.” 

Dr. Martin Henkelmann, KGCCI President and CEO, emphasized the significance of the event, stating, “Celebrating the 10th edition of the KGCCI Innovation Awards underscores the expanding diversity and strength of the Korean-German business partnership. This milestone reaffirms our commitment to nurturing innovative ideas that not only drive business success but also foster positive societal impact.” 

2024 KGCCI Innovation Awards Winners 

Shim Hyeong-bo, Henkel Consumer Brands Korea, winner of ‘Innovation in Sustainability’ award, said, “This award is a recognition of combining the performance technology of Henkel, a renowned German detergent company, with Samsung’s innovative washing machines to provide a completely differentiated washing experience for our consumers as well as evidence of our joint effort in the long-standing legacy of sustainability into the future.” He added, “We will continue to do our very best to research and develop better methods to provide a cleaner environment for generations to come.” 

Kyo-suk Song, CEO of Medipixel, winner of ‘Innovation in Society Impact’ award, stated, “This award signifies not only recognition but also serves as a meaningful steppingstone for Medipixel’s global advancement. Moving forward, we will continue to lead innovations that illuminate the future of the Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) industry.”  

ChoongHyun Lee, CEO of Pebble-Square, winner in ‘Innovation in Technology’ award, stated, “This award acknowledges the innovation of our MINT and PAPAYA AI chips, which have demonstrated high performance and ultra-low power consumption through PIM technology. We will continue to lead AI technology innovation and strive to deliver solutions that maximize energy efficiency across various industries.” 

Joonho Lim, CEO of Petnow Inc., recipient of ‘Innovation in Business’ Award, said, “I am delighted to have been recognized for our innovation in pet technology and receive an award in Germany, with such an advanced pet culture who have a pet knowledge certification exam(Sachkundenachweis für Hunde).” He added, “I hope that this award will lead to active use of Petnow technology in pet registration management and lost pet searches in Germany as well.”