UTAH-KOREA GLOBAL INNOVATION FORUM
SONGDO, KOREA | September 25-27, 2025
University of Utah
Building Global Bridges in Innovation and Education
Join us for the U.S.–Korea Industry Connect, where business and government leaders converge to explore cross-border R&D, strategic partnerships, and global market expansion. This event fosters collaboration between industry and academia, offering access to bilingual, research-active students and exclusive networking opportunities. Whether you're a C-suite executive, R&D director, or recruitment lead, this is your gateway to innovation, talent, and international growth.
UTAH-KOREA NETWORKING
ACADEMIC-INDUSTRY RESEARCH NETWORKING
INDUSTRY, GOVERNMENT & V.C. COLLABORATION DISCUSSIONS
BI-LINGUAL TRANSLATION BY ECE STUDENTS
Agenda
DAY 1 | Sept 25 9:00AM – 8:00PM
- Keynote Speakers
- Industry Forum Lightning Speeches
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- Biomedical Technologies, Bionics, & Robotics
- Computation, Communications, and Artificial Intelligence
- Semiconductors and Electronics
- Energy & Smart Systems
- Government, Industry, VC Networking Events
DAY 2 | Sept 26 9:00AM – 8:00PM
- Keynote Speakers
- Academia-Industry Research Collaboration
- UAC Student Interviews
DAY 3 | Sept 27 Optional
- Cultural Tours around Songdo and Incheon
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Jefferson Moss
Jefferson Moss is the Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity (GOEO). He brings extensive experience in entrepreneurship, venture capital, investments, and legislative service, and has played a key role in driving innovation and economic development in Utah.
His diverse background includes founding several businesses and holding private banking roles at Credit Suisse and KeyBank. He has served as Chair of the UVU Endowment Investment Committee and is the founder of both the UVU Wolverine Fund and the Utah Innovation Fund. Moss has also held leadership positions as Associate Commissioner of Innovation for the Utah System of Higher Education, Board Member of the Utah Board of Education, City Council Member and Planning Commissioner of the City of Saratoga Springs, Executive Director of the Innovation District at The Point, and Majority Leader in the Utah House of Representatives.
Throughout his career, Moss has demonstrated a strong commitment to fostering growth, creativity, and collaboration across multiple sectors.
Jacob George
Jacob A. George, PhD, is the Solzbacher-Chen Endowed Professor in the Departments of Electrical & Computer Engineering and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at the University of Utah. He is a foundational researcher for the Craig H. Neilsen Rehabilitation Hospital, Director of the Utah NeuroRobotics Lab, and Director of the Utah Neurotechnology Training Program. In 2019, Dr. George made waves with the “LUKE Arm”, a prosthetic arm integrated with the user’s nervous system to allow them to control it simply with their thoughts. Named after the robotic hand given to Luke Skywalker in The Empire Strikes Back, the prosthetic arm also allows users to feel objects by transmitting the appropriate signals back to the brain. Dr. George has since translated this technology to bionic exoskeletons to aid individuals with paralysis and into smartwatches to enable seamless interactions with smart devices and virtual/augmented reality. Dr. George is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Utah “Innovator of the Year” Award, Forbes 30 Under 30, and the NIH Director’s Early Independence Award.
Jacob A. George, Ph.D.
Director, Utah NeuroRobotics; Lab, Director, Utah NeuroTechnology Training Program; Solzbacher-Chen Endowed Professor; Assistant Professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering; Assistant Professor, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation; Adjunct Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering; Adjunct Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering; Foundational Researcher, Craig H. Neilsen Rehabilitation Hospital; Participating Faculty, Neuroscience Program; Faculty Member, Utah Center for Neural Interfaces; Core Faculty, Utah Robotics Center
University of Utah
Greg Hill
Greg Hill, chief administrative officer and dean of faculty in Incheon, South Korea.
Hill is an experienced scholar and administrator who can lead the University of Utah Asia Campus (UAC) through the tentative global recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. While the pandemic has disrupted student travel to and from the campus, Ireland believes Hill and Dean of Students Randy McCrillis will be able to build on the academic strength of the young program.
The UAC celebrated its fifth anniversary in 2019. UAC’s largest class of students—68—graduated in spring 2019, up from just 13 in the first cohort. In spring 2020, 418 students were enrolled in five undergraduate and two graduate programs. All students live on campus, and 80% are Korean.
Hill, who worked as a visiting professor at UAC during the Summer 2018 Semester, earned his bachelor’s degree in zoology and a master’s of public administration at Idaho State University, followed by a doctorate in public administration from Texas A&M. He taught public policy and administration at Boise State for nearly 15 years, including leading both the department and the graduate programs, before taking the helm at the policy institute in 2016.
“It’s an honor to have the opportunity to lead this unique and dynamic campus in Asia. The faculty, students and administration are committed to making UAC a true University of Utah experience, and I am thrilled to be part of a growing, thriving and innovative university.”
Ken Muir
Ken W. Muir graduated with honors from the University of Utah in 1995 with B.S. degrees in both electrical and computer engineering. He serves on the university’s Engineering Industry Advisory Board and Engineering National Advisory Council. He is a 2010 PLD graduate of Harvard Business School and the 2017 University of Utah, John & Marcia Price College of Engineering Distinguished Alumnus recipient.
Muir is a seasoned software executive with over 30 years of leadership experience. He holds three U.S. patents and is an expert in enterprise software specializing in artificial intelligence, machine learning, information security, governance and compliance. His career successes include CEO of an international privately-held software company (acquired by Micro Focus in 2016), chief of staff and chief technology and strategy officer for a billion-dollar public company, and leading other large engineering organizations. Muir has participated in numerous industry panels and has been a keynote speaker at conferences around the world. Ken is currently the Chief Executive Officer of DeliciousAI, a Lehi, UT based software company.
He resides in Bountiful, Utah, with his family. His wife Kim holds a bachelor’s in psychology and a Master degree in Social Work from the University of Utah.
Charles Musgrave
Dean Musgrave is a professor of chemical and biochemical engineering and associate dean for graduate education at the College of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Colorado at Boulder. He has been serving as the Dean for the Price College of Engineering at the University of Utah since July 1, 2024.
While at the University of Colorado, Musgrave served as chair of the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, with a joint appointment at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory with the Department of Energy in Golden, Colo. He is a fellow of the Materials Science and Engineering Program and Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute at the University of Colorado. Before his nearly 16 years in Colorado, Musgrave served as an assistant professor of chemical engineering at Stanford University, and as a visiting professor of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Harvard University. He was a collaborator with Intel Corporation, SC Solutions Corporation, General Motors Corporation and Xerox Corporation, among others. Along with his notable achievements, Musgrave brings a unique perspective to his leadership role as a first-generation student and son of an immigrant.
Hosted By:
Hanseup Kim, Department Chair, ECE University of Utah
Hyea-Won Clayton & Jimmy Choi, Directors, Utah Korean Chamber of Commerce
David Carlebach, COO, Utah World Trade Center
James Park & Casey Hyun, Executive Team, University of Utah Asia Campus
Jim Grover, Managing Director of Economic Growth, Governors Office of Economic Development
Who Should Attend?
– C-Suite Executives & Business Leaders
– Research & Development, Innovation Directors
– Business Development Teams
– Employee Recruitment Personnel
– Industry-Academic Liaison Officers
Why Attend?
– Build strategic partnerships between U.S. and Korean industries
– Engage with high-potential students fluent in both cultures and actively working in cutting-edge research
– Explore joint Research & Development opportunities and innovative solutions
– Tap into global talent pipelines and new market expansion ideas
Thank you to our sponsors!
We extend our sincere gratitude to the sponsors who have generously supported our students and department in the past and appreciate any and all who will support the U.S.–Korea Industry & Innovation Exchange. Their commitment to cross-border collaboration empowers high-potential, bilingual students and drives meaningful connections between industry, academia, and government.
In partnership with the University of Utah Asia Campus, Chair Hanseup Kim, and esteemed faculty, these sponsors are helping to open doors to global research, development, and career opportunities. Their support plays a vital role in shaping the future of U.S.–Korea innovation.
Benefits of Sponsorship
In addition to forging U.S.–Korea industry partnerships, sponsors can expect to receive the following benefits based on their contributions:
Named Scholarship for Students, Gifts, Tours
Exclusive Branding at one of the following events:
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- (Company Name)
- (Company Name) Luncheon at the U.S. – Korea Innovation Exchange Expo
- (Company Name) Global Link Luncheon
- (Company Name) Recruiting and Alumni Mentorship Dinner
Premier Naming Rights for the Entire Event
Exclusive Branding for the Signature Dinner Experience
Executive Panel Participation alongside Industry Leaders
Prime Positioning and Visibility across all Weekend Events
Unmatched Access to High-Level Networking and Brand Alignment
2025 Sponsors
We extend our sincere gratitude to the sponsors who have generously supported the U.S.–Korea Industry & Innovation Exchange. Their commitment to cross-border collaboration empowers high-potential, bilingual students and drives meaningful connections between industry, academia, and government. In partnership with the University of Utah Asia Campus, Chair Hanseup Kim, and esteemed faculty, these sponsors are helping to open doors to global research, development, and career opportunities. Their support plays a vital role in shaping the future of U.S.–Korea innovation.