On the 12th (local time), during the state visit by President Lee Jae Myung, the governments of Korea and Italy signed four memorandums of understanding (MOUs), including ones to strengthen cooperation in advanced science and technology and among small and medium-sized enterprises.

President Lee and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also adopted the ‘2026-2030 Korea-Italy Strategic Action Plan’ to review progress in concrete cooperation between the two countries, whose ties were elevated to a ‘Special Strategic Partnership’.

Through the Korea-Italy advanced science and technology·ICT (information and communications technology) cooperation MOU, the two governments agreed to promote collaboration in future strategic technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), quantum technology, bio·life sciences, and space technology. They will jointly participate in international research programs and expand information exchange on science and technology policy and on legal·institutional trends.

In particular, they agreed to use the Korea-Italy Joint Committee on Science and Technology to review the implementation of cooperative projects and discuss future cooperation.

The presidential office stated, “By expanding science and technology cooperation into the digital·advanced technology fields, this strengthens the foundation for cooperation in the future growth engines of the two countries,” and added, “It establishes an institutional basis to develop science and technology·innovation into a new pillar of bilateral relations.”

The two countries also signed an MOU on cooperation in the field of small and medium-sized enterprises and microbusinesses. Through this, they will promote policy dialogue and exchanges on systems related to SMEs and microbusinesses.

The presidential office explained that it “lays the groundwork for cooperation to enhance the global competitiveness of SMEs and microbusinesses in both countries by linking the traditional manufacturing capabilities and craftsmanship of Italy with the capacity for technological innovation in Korea.”

The governments of Korea and Italy also agreed, through a ‘Development Cooperation MOU’, to jointly pursue cooperative projects in Africa that can generate synergies.

In Uganda, Ethiopia, Egypt, Cote d'Ivoire, and elsewhere, projects such as agriculture·rural development including coffee, and digital education and training are being discussed as concrete candidates.

The two countries also signed an MOU on the social and solidarity economy. Italy is a leading country in this field, including cooperatives, and this MOU is the first that the Korean government has signed with a foreign government in this domain. The scope of cooperation is expected to expand through the sharing of best practices and innovative models in the social and solidarity economy and through the building of international networks.

President Lee and Prime Minister Meloni reached agreement on the ‘2026-2030 Korea-Italy Strategic Action Plan’ that day.

The 2026-2030 Action Plan is a document proposed by Prime Minister Meloni during her visit to Korea in January. Its main elements include strengthening communication through regular high-level visits; measures to enhance cooperation in high-tech industries, including establishing a joint coordination committee in the critical raw materials and automobile manufacturing sectors; pursuing joint initiatives to promote partnerships between the defense industries; joint efforts to combat transnational crime; and support for cultural initiatives connected to language and cultural heritage.