15th Korea Green Innovation Days (KGID)
The 15th edition of Korea Green Innovation Days (KGID 2026) will be held on May 6-8, 2026 in Sejong, Republic of Korea bringing together global practitioners, policymakers, and partners to accelerate green growth solutions with clear potential to scale.
KGID is the annual flagship event of the Korea Green Growth Trust Fund (KGGTF). Building on the momentum of past editions, KGID 2026 will be organized under the theme: Learning from Korea: Scaling Green Growth for Global Impact.
Korea offers a particularly relevant set of lessons for today’s green growth agenda. It demonstrates how strong public institutions, innovation, industrial capability, and digital solutions can come together to deliver rapid development while advancing resilient pathways. Korea’s experience also shows what it takes to move from policy ambition to implementation by aligning financing, regulation, technology, and delivery systems, and mobilizing partnerships across government, academia, and the private sector.
KGID 2026 will elevate these practical lessons and focus on how they can be adapted and replicated in diverse country contexts. The emphasis is on implementation, replication, and partnership driven scale, highlighting how collaborative approaches across governments, development institutions, and the private sector can translate innovation into measurable development outcomes and generate global impacts for green growth.
About KGID
KGID convenes World Bank project teams, client countries, Korea partner institutions, and global green growth leaders to exchange knowledge, showcase results, and catalyze new partnerships across seven priority sectors: Agriculture and Food, Digital Transformation, Energy and Extractives, Environment, Transport, Urban, and Water.
Through concrete examples from ongoing KGGTF-supported activities, KGID highlights real-world applications of green growth, demonstrating how policy reform, technology, and institutional partnerships can unlock investment, strengthen capacity, increase productivity, and create jobs.
Since its inception, KGID has been hosted in major global and regional hubs, including Seoul, Washington DC, Dar es Salaam, Cairo, and Jeju, serving as a trusted platform for dialogue between operational teams and solution providers. In 2026, KGID will be hosted in Sejong, Korea’s administrative city, offering unparalleled access to government institutions and policy leadership.
Why Sejong
Sejong City, established in 2012 as Korea’s planned administrative city, is the policy hub of the Republic of Korea, home to 23 central government ministries and 22 affiliated agencies, including the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, as well as 26 national policy research institutes and public institutions such as the Korea Development Institute (KDI).
Developed as part of Korea’s national decentralization strategy, Sejong represents a planned, forward-looking urban model, integrating sustainability, smart city solutions, green infrastructure, and innovation-driven growth. Sejong offers a uniquely concentrated governance ecosystem that supports KGID 2026’s theme and purpose by enabling:
-Direct engagement with policymakers and implementing agencies
-Policy-focused knowledge exchange and peer learning
-Exploration of institutional partnerships in a highly concentrated decision-making setting.
Hosting KGID in Sejong, Korea’s administrative city and a fast-growing planned city located about 1–1.5 hours from Seoul reinforces the event’s emphasis on policy-to-practice linkages and partnership-driven scale for global impact.
KGID 2026 is designed as a hands-on platform for learning, partnership building, and operational impact. Program details will continue to be developed, and updates will be shared regularly. Learn more in the concept note here.
We warmly welcome green growth practitioners from around the world to join KGID 2026 and contribute to inspiring collaboration, knowledge exchange, and scalable solutions. For inquiries, please contact: kggtf@worldbank.org.
Program details are tentative and subject to refinement. Pre-arranged bilateral meetings will take place throughout the event.
Breakout Sessions by Sector & Theme
- Registration
- Agriculture Session
- Urban Session
- Energy Session
- Energy Session 2
- RDA Session
- NIGT Session
Smarter Policies, Better Yields: Using Data and Digital Tools to Transform Agriculture
This session explores how countries are using geospatial data and digital platforms to design more effective agriculture policies and improve program delivery. Korean institutions will share how national systems for crop monitoring and agricultural data have been institutionalized, while World Bank teams highlight emerging applications in Sub-Saharan Africa and Honduras, from smarter subsidy targeting to AI-driven yield estimation. The discussion will focus on what it takes to move from data to decisions, and from pilots to scalable impact.
From Plans to Projects: Delivering Green Cities through Partnerships and Practice
How do cities move from vision to implementation? This session explores how coordinated governance and public-private partnerships can turn green urban plans into investable, job-creating projects. Drawing on practical experiences, speakers will highlight lessons in integrated planning, land development, and phased delivery, showing how cities can structure institutions and partnerships to deliver scalable, resilient urban transformation.
Green Energy Transformation: Driving Decarbonization and Sustainable Solutions
This session will explore how countries are accelerating the transition to cleaner, more resilient energy systems while expanding access and supporting economic growth. Drawing on operational experience across diverse contexts, speakers will highlight how innovative approaches, ranging from renewable energy scale-up to the digitalization of power systems, are helping to reduce emissions, strengthen grid performance, and improve service delivery.
Grounded in real-world lessons, the session will offer actionable insights on building future-ready energy systems that are low-carbon, reliable, and responsive to evolving development needs.
Nuclear in the Energy Transition: What It Takes to Deliver Reliable, Low-Carbon Power
This session examines the role of nuclear energy in delivering reliable, low‑carbon power as part of the broader energy transition Drawing on Korea’s experience and World Bank engagement, speakers will share practical lessons on long-term plan operation, investment readiness and institutional capacity. The discussion will focus on how nuclear can complement renewable energy systems, while addressing the operational, financial, and policy challenges countries face.
Addressing Nutritional Imbalance through Climate‑Smart Agriculture
Nutritional imbalance remains a persistent challenge in many developing countries, exacerbated by climate change and vulnerabilities in food systems. Led by the Rural Development Administration (RDA), this session introduces climate‑smart agricultural technologies and research. The session highlights innovations that improve the diversity, and nutritional quality of food, while enhancing climate resilience and sustainability, with relevance for addressing malnutrition and food security challenges in developing countries.
From Korean Climate Innovation to Global Application
This session, led by the National Institute of Green Technology (NIGT), showcases climate‑related technologies developed through the Ministry of Science and ICT’s pilot programs, as well as innovations from government‑funded research institutes and universities in Korea. The session highlights Korea’s public R&D and applied research efforts in the climate sector, introducing a range of technologies with potential relevance for global development and climate action.
Breakout Sessions by Sector & Theme (Morning)
Aligned for Impact: Expanding Partnership with the World Bank Korea Office
This session highlights how the World Bank Korea Office and KGGTF are working together to strengthen knowledge exchange, capacity building, and operational collaboration. It will present the Korea Office's evolving role and Phase 4 strategic priorities, while showcasing past partnerships and new opportunities for engagement.
The discussion will also offer a broader outlook of the Korea World Bank Group — spanning the World Bank, IFC, and MIGA — and how these collaborations are translating into practical support for country programs.
Blue Economy in Action: Scaling Seaweed, Blue Carbon, and Ocean Solutions
This session explores how countries are advancing a more resilient and inclusive blue economy through practical, scalable solutions. Speakers will highlight how seaweed and blue carbon approaches can support climate mitigation, strengthen food systems, and create new economic opportunities.
The discussion will also examine how coastal communities, sustainable maritime practices, and circular economic approaches are being integrated to restore ecosystems, enhance resilience, and drive sustainable growth.
Smarter Mobility in Practice: Digital Solutions for Smarter, Safer, and Greener Transport
This session explores how digital technologies can strengthen transport systems to improve safety, efficiency, and sustainability. Drawing on Korea’s experience and World Bank supported projects, speakers will share lessons from implementing intelligent transport systems (ITS), digital rail solutions, and smart urban mobility.
The focus is on how these tools can be applied in different countries’ contexts to deliver real improvements in mobility and service delivery.
Unlocking Climate Finance: Scaling Investment for Real-World Impact
This session explores how countries can mobilize and scale climate finance through innovative instruments, partnerships, and market-based approaches. Speakers will highlight practical lessons on strengthening policy frameworks, building institutional capacity, and crowding in private investment.
The discussion will also introduce emerging initiatives such as the Global Voluntary Carbon Market (GVCM) examining how they can enhance market integrity, support results-based finance, and create new pathways for scaling high-impact climate action.
Breakout Sessions by Sector & Theme (Afternoon)
From Pilots to Scale: Aligning ODA, R&D, and Investment for Greater Impact
This session examines how countries and partners can move beyond stand-alone projects to build integrated portfolios that connect research, pilots and financing. Speakers will share collaborative development examples from ODA, R&D, and pilot projects that are aligned across the project lifecycle—from innovation to deployment and scale.
The discussion will highlight models for collaboration and multilateral development banks and the use of parallel financing to translate innovation into large-scale impact.
Clearing the Air: Integrated Solutions for Cleaner, Healthier Cities
This session explores how countries are tackling air pollution through coordinated, data-driven approaches. Speakers will share lessons on strengthening governance, building emissions inventories, and designing effective policies and enforcement systems.
The discussion will focus on how cities can translate data into action, aligning institutions, capacity, and policy tools to deliver sustained improvements in air quality and public health.
Green Transitions in Practice: What It Takes to Build Resilient Systems
This session brings together World Bank teams and international experts to explore diverse approaches to green and resilient development. Drawing on diverse country experiences, speakers will highlight what works across areas such as waste governance, green industrialization, and landscape restoration.
The focus is on implementation, how policies, institutions, and investments come together to drive sustained environmental and economic outcomes.
Leveraging Private Sector Innovation
This session explores how climate tech companies’ technologies and implementation experience can be applied in the field of development cooperation.
The discussion will focus on practical pathways for integrating private sector climate solutions into international development domains, including collaboration models with governments and multilateral institutions.
Breakout Sessions by Sector & Theme (Afternoon Part 2)
From Digital Government to AI-Enabled Services: Pathways to Better Delivery
This session explores how governments are strengthening digital foundations to unlock the next generation of AI-enabled public services. Korean institutions will share how they are building interoperable platforms and preparing for trusted AI adoption, while World Bank teams highlight lessons from KGGTF-supported programs in different regions.
The discussion will focus on practical steps—what it takes to move from digital systems to smarter, more responsive service delivery.
From Systems to Services: Scaling Reliable and Resilient Water Delivery
This session explores how countries are strengthening institutions and utilities to expand and sustain water services at scale. Drawing on practical implementation experiences, speakers will highlight how clear governance structures, coordinated planning, and phased investments can improve service delivery.
The focus is on practical approaches to utility transformation, infrastructure integration, and operational models that deliver reliable, resilient water systems.
Shaping the Next Generation of Climate Solutions
The session brings together emerging professionals to explore how early-career leaders are contributing to climate action and green growth initiatives. Through the exchange of ideas and experiences, the session highlights innovative thinking and the role of young professionals in shaping future development pathways.
The session also provides a platform for peer learning and networking among the next generation of global development leaders.
Plenary Day
Opening Ceremony
Scaling Green Growth: Aligning Policy, Investment, and Innovation
Scaling green growth requires more than successful pilot projects. It demands alignment across policy frameworks, investment pipelines, and innovation ecosystems to translate evidence into sustained impact.
This plenary roundtable will examine how governments, development partners, and the private sector can work together to build the institutional, financial, and technological systems needed to move from isolated initiatives to scalable, investment-ready green transformation.
KGGTF: Our Global Impact, Today and Tomorrow
KGGTF: Powering the Continued Development Journey
This session will demonstrate how the Korea Green Growth Trust Fund (KGGTF) translates evidence and innovation into scalable, investment-ready green growth solutions that support the continued development journey of partner countries.
Flagship initiatives will highlight KGGTF’s catalytic impact and innovative practices developed with Korean and global partners. The presentation will conclude with a moderated Q&A exploring lessons learned and pathways to scale.
KGGTF–KDI Joint Knowledge Collaboration Session
From Vision to Impact: Innovations Across Sectors and Regions
Working with the World Bank: Procurement Orientation
This session will provide an overview of the World Bank’s procurement framework and procedures for projects financed by the Bank. It will introduce core principles and explain key steps in procurement planning, bidding, evaluation, and contract management.
The session aims to enhance participants’ understanding of compliance requirements, improve readiness of implementation, and support more effective engagement in World Bank–financed operations.
Cultural Session