AMCHAM launches new innovation council

The American Chamber of Commerce in Korea announced on Monday the launch of a new council, which will focus on promoting innovation in both U.S and Korean companies, ahead of its 60th anniversary next year.

The AMCHAM Council on Innovation for the Future was established to strengthen the already-strong economic ties by encouraging sharing of innovation expertise and expanding strategic partnerships between U.S. and Korean companies, said AMCHAM officials.

“Both U.S. and Korea are leaders in innovation and have their own secret recipes for successful innovation. The council will focus on further developing these strengths to support innovation and strengthen the cooperation and strategic partnership between the two nations,” said James Kim, general manager and CEO of Microsoft Korea and inaugural chairman of the council, at a press conference held at Millennium Seoul Hilton.

The council plans to encourage the sharing of innovation models and examples in diverse sectors and identify win-win strategies for companies. It will invite key speakers from both countries who are innovation leaders in their fields in order to identify ways in which innovation can be promoted further in Korea.

Promoting corporate social responsibility will be another focus of the council. It will put in efforts to spread an awareness of CSR by benchmarking model cases of innovative CSR activities.

Sung Kim, U.S. ambassador to Korea, will serve as the honorary chairman of the council, and Amy Jackson, president of AMCHAM, as council president. Han Jin-hyun, deputy minister for trade and investment at the Ministry of Knowledge Economy, will also join the council as a special adviser. The council plans to meet periodically.

By Park Min-young  (claire@heraldcorp.com)