Domestic and international participants pose for a commemorative photo at the 2026 Incheon International Environmental Technology CONFEX

● KOICA master's fellows garner enthusiastic response by presenting actionable solutions tied to environmental challenges in their home countries

● Diplomatic representatives from eight countries, including the Ambassadors of Kenya and the Philippines, attend the session, drawing international attention

● Contributing to global environmental cooperation and expanding the international reach of Korea's eco-friendly technologies 

The Incheon National University KOICA Climate Training Program announced that the Project Concept Paper (PCP) presentation session by KOICA master's fellows, held during the 2026 Incheon International Environmental Technology CONFEX (CONFEX 2026), concluded with great success amid strong interest from diplomatic representatives and experts.

Held from September 3 to 4 at the Premier Ballroom of Songdo Convensia, CONFEX 2026 took place under the theme “Beyond Innovation, Towards Sustainability.” The event brought together government institutions, diplomatic missions, universities, research institutes, and environmental technology companies to explore concrete solutions for climate change response and carbon neutrality.

A key highlight of the event on September 4 was the session featuring 20 KOICA master's fellows from 18 countries currently enrolled in the INU-KOICA Climate and Environment Capacity Building Program. The fellows took the stage to share the climate-related and sustainable development challenges facing their home countries, presenting practical and effective project concept papers to address them.

Notably, the session drew intense international interest with the attendance of diplomatic representatives from eight countries, including the Ambassadors of Kenya and the Philippines, alongside representatives from Cambodia, Ecuador, Indonesia, Nigeria, Paraguay, and Tunisia.

Drawing on firsthand knowledge of conditions in their home countries, the fellows proposed concrete avenues for cooperation, including ▲the adoption of eco-friendly technologies, ▲transitions to renewable energy, and ▲the establishment of climate-resilient infrastructure. Attending diplomatic envoys and international development cooperation experts responded positively to these on-the-ground insights, engaging in in-depth discussions regarding potential joint research and technological collaboration between Korea and the participating countries.

Professor Heekwan Lee, Director of the KOICA Climate Training Program at Incheon National University, stated, “The PCP presentations by these KOICA master’s fellows hold great significance beyond academic presentations, as they have laid the groundwork for practical development cooperation and eco-friendly technology transfer between South Korea and partner countries.” He added, “In particular, thanks to the direct attendance of numerous diplomatic envoys stationed in Korea, we expect that multilateral and forward-looking global partnerships in the climate and environmental sectors will accelerate even further.”

Building on the momentum of this CONFEX, the INU-KOICA Climate Training Program plans to strengthen its network with global climate leaders and expand the horizons of cooperation through tangible environmental technology ODA (Official Development Assistance) and international collaborative research.