ULSAN, South Korea--(뉴스와이어)--WAVE 2026 (World Advanced Vision Expo 2026) will take place at the Ulsan Exhibition & Convention Center (UECO) from September 10 to 12, bringing together the major industries, companies, and technologies shaping the future of Korea’s industrial economy. As artificial intelligence integrates with mobility, robotics transforms manufacturing, and digital technologies unlock new possibilities in shipbuilding and energy, Ulsan is preparing to open a new nexus for Korea’s industrial AI transformation (AX).

Now in its third year, WAVE 2026 is designed to showcase how AX is being applied across Ulsan’s core industries and how the convergence of AI, digital technologies and industrial capabilities can create new business and investment opportunities.

The central theme of WAVE 2026 is “Industrial AX Nexus.” The concept reflects Ulsan’s vision of connecting AI and digital technologies with key industries—including automotive, shipbuilding, defense, advanced materials and energy—while bringing companies and markets together to create opportunities for collaboration, investment and new business.

AI Meets Industry: Exploring the Industrial AX Nexus

WAVE 2026 will feature four major exhibition sectors: AI & Digital Innovation, Future Mobility, Shipbuilding, Defense & Advanced Materials, and Clean Energy & Carbon Neutrality.

Major global corporations, including tech companies—SK, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, Hyundai Motor Company, S-OIL, Korea Zinc, and LS MnM—will participate in the exhibition, showcasing technologies, solutions, and services that demonstrate how AI and digital technologies are transforming established industrial sectors.

The exhibition will highlight the interconnected nature of industrial transformation — from AI and data centers to manufacturing AX, future mobility and batteries, and from shipbuilding and defense to clean energy and advanced materials.

Rather than presenting each industry in isolation, WAVE 2026 will demonstrate how technologies and industrial capabilities connect across sectors.

Visitors will see how AI is transforming manufacturing, how manufacturing AX is expanding into automotive, shipbuilding, and defense, and how energy and advanced materials are creating new opportunities for next-generation industries.

Through this approach, WAVE 2026 aims to provide a broader view of the industrial value chains and business opportunities emerging from cross-sector convergence.

From Exhibition to Business: Connecting Companies with Markets

WAVE 2026 goes beyond technology demonstration to serve as a business platform connecting companies, technologies, and markets.

The event will feature export and investment consultations with domestic and international buyers, as well as business meetings and networking programs designed to help participating companies identify potential partners, expand into new markets, and develop new business opportunities.

With diverse industrial sectors gathered at one venue, the exhibition will offer opportunities for cross-industry collaboration, technology partnerships and the development of new business models.

For international companies, buyers and investors, WAVE 2026 will provide an opportunity to explore Ulsan’s industrial ecosystem, identify potential business partners, and discover opportunities for market expansion, investment and collaboration.

In this respect, WAVE 2026 is positioned not simply as an exhibition, but as a platform for connecting technology with business and industrial capabilities with global markets.

From Industry to Citizens: Experiencing the Future Together

WAVE 2026 is designed to engage not only industry professionals, but also students, future talent, and citizens. The 2026 SK Ulsan Forum will be held concurrently on September 11, providing a platform to discuss key issues and future directions for the industry.

A range of public programs will also offer opportunities for students and citizens to experience emerging technologies, including AI, robotics and future mobility.

A robotics competition for students will provide young people with hands-on engagement with future technologies, while interactive public activities make advanced technologies more accessible to all visitors.

Through these programs, WAVE 2026 seeks to create connections at multiple levels:

New business opportunities for companies, new innovation opportunities for industries, and new experiences of the future for citizens—this is the vision behind “Industrial AX Nexus.”

Ulsan: Connecting Korea’s Industrial Capabilities to the Future

Ulsan is one of Korea’s leading industrial hubs, boasting global competitiveness across automotive, shipbuilding, petrochemicals, energy and advanced materials.

WAVE 2026 builds upon this industrial foundation by uniting emerging technologies with established industrial capabilities, highlighting how Ulsan’s industrial ecosystem can evolve through AI and digital transformation.

The event is hosted by Ulsan Metropolitan City and jointly organized by six key institutions: Ulsan Culture & Tourism Foundation, Ulsan Economic & Job Promotion Agency, Ulsan Technopark, Ulsan Information Industry Promotion Agency, Ulsan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Korea Hydrogen Industry Association.

Admission to WAVE 2026 is free. International visitors, buyers, and business professionals can register in advance through the official website: www.waveulsan.kr

Beyond AI, toward Industrial AX. Beyond individual industries, toward new connections. WAVE 2026 — Korea’s new Industrial AX Nexus begins in Ulsan.

About Ulsan Culture & Tourism Foundation (UCTF)

The Ulsan Culture & Tourism Foundation (UCTF) is Ulsan’s specialized MICE organization, dedicated to strengthening the city’s exhibition, convention, and business event industries. Leveraging Ulsan’s strong industrial base and future-oriented industries, UCTF organizes specialized industrial exhibitions, including WAVE (World Advanced Vision Expo), connecting Ulsan’s key industries with emerging technologies, businesses, and global markets. Beyond MICE, UCTF also promotes the development of Ulsan’s cultural and tourism industries. By bringing together industry, culture, tourism, and MICE, the Foundation creates new opportunities for citizens, businesses, and visitors while enhancing Ulsan’s competitiveness and global city brand.