Meeting between Kakao Mobility and Sharjah Digital Department | Photo by Kakao Mobility
Kakao Mobility (CEO Alex Ryu) hosted a Sharjah Digital Department (SDD) delegation on October 8 at its Pangyo headquarters. The visit allowed the Sharjah delegation, led by Sheikh Saud bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Director of SDD, to experience the latest in future mobility technologies and discuss potential collaboration.
Sharjah, one of the emirates forming the UAE and a key economic hub connecting Dubai and Abu Dhabi, is known for its focus on building smart infrastructure and advancing digital transformation. This visit, initiated by the SDD’s interest in mobility technologies, aimed to explore Kakao Mobility’s cutting-edge solutions and discuss possibilities for cooperation.
During the session, Kakao Mobility showcased its vision and practical applications of future mobility technologies, including autonomous driving, robotics, and digital twin technologies. The demonstration included the company’s proprietary Mobile Mapping System (MMS), which utilizes GNSS correction and spatiotemporal synchronization technologies. The delegation also experienced the autonomous driving vehicle and observed the robotic delivery service ‘BRING’ operating within Kakao’s Pangyo office.
Kakao Mobility representatives demonstrate BRING to the Sharjah Digital Department delegation | Photo by Kakao Mobility
The Sharjah delegation expressed strong interest in Kakao Mobility’s autonomous driving technology and its international expansion strategies, including using big data and platform expertise for global ride-hailing services. They discussed the technologies, equipment, and infrastructure that enable autonomous operation in complex urban environments. Both sides explored potential collaboration opportunities to introduce future mobility services in Sharjah.
Alex Ryu, CEO of Kakao Mobility, commented, “Following the visits from Singapore’s Ministry of Transport and Saudi Arabia’s Data & AI Authority, the visit from Sharjah’s key officials further confirms the global interest in Kakao Mobility’s technology. We will continue to explore partnerships with various countries to establish our technology as a core infrastructure in the global future mobility industry.”
Sheikh Saud praised Kakao Mobility’s advancements, stating, “It was impressive to see such advanced mobility technologies implemented in complex urban environments. We hope Kakao Mobility representatives will further visit Sharjah to discuss the broader opportunities for collaboration between both parties.”
Pangyo Techno Valley is a global integrated R&D hub focused on IT, BT, CT, and NT, integrating Research (R), People (P), Information (I), and Trade (T). As Gyeonggi-do’s representative innovation cluster, Pangyo Techno Valley was established to secure national new growth drivers such as technological innovation, human resource development, job creation, and enhancing international business competitiveness. As of 2023, 1,666 companies employ 78,751 people, and it has positioned itself as the most innovative hub in South Korea, with sales amounting to 167.7 trillion KRW (125.5 billion USD).
Furthermore, the Techno Valley Innovation Division of the Gyeonggi-do Business & Science Accelerator (GBSA) holds monthly events such as the Pangyo Evening Meet-Up, Pan-Pan Day, and the Pangyo Startup Investment Exchange “In-Best Pangyo” to maximize the value of Pangyo Techno Valley. They also support the Pangyo Overseas Promotion Program to publicize information about Pangyo’s companies, products, and services to domestic and foreign investors and the media, thereby facilitating foreign investment.
