EventCAT Empowers Global Maritime Startups' Expansion into Singapore: Smart Port Challenge

On May 19th, the ‘Smart Port Challenge Roadshow in Busan 2026’ was held at the Busan Center for Creative Economy & Innovation. This event was designed to support promising domestic maritime and fisheries startups in expanding into global markets, including Singapore.

EventCAT provided official real-time Korean-English AI translation throughout the event, including during 1:1 meet-ups, actively supporting the successful global networking of domestic maritime startups.

What is the Smart Port Challenge & PIER71?

PIER71, the host of this event, is a global maritime innovation platform co-founded by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and the National University of Singapore (NUS). As part of PIER71's flagship program, the 'Smart Port Challenge,' this roadshow was specially organized to discover promising Korean startups in Busan and share know-how for entering the Singaporean market.

What Kind of Startups Gathered at the Busan Roadshow?

Various deep-tech companies aiming to integrate cutting-edge IT with the maritime industry attended the event, covering fields such as:

• Decarbonization

• Smart Port Automation

• Cybersecurity

Additionally, venture capital (VC) firms with a keen interest in the maritime and fisheries sectors, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, and the Busan Port Authority (BPA) joined to discover high-potential companies and connect them with investment support programs.

Breaking the Language Barrier: EventCAT's Real-Time Translation

EventCAT provided real-time Korean-English subtitles through a dedicated side monitor. It was particularly effective during the networking sessions where real-time communication is crucial, flawlessly supporting seamless interaction between overseas partners and domestic startups.

Low Latency AI Subtitles Tailored to the Venue

EventCAT, which flexibly broadcasts subtitles for both large-scale conferences and intimate gatherings, delivered real-time subtitles via side monitors installed at the venue. Even when a speaker switched from English to Korean mid-speech, EventCAT automatically detected the language and simultaneously broadcasted both Korean and English subtitles with extremely low latency, ensuring overseas attendees didn't miss a single detail.

Perfect Immersion via QR Code Scanning

Alongside the screen broadcast, a mobile subtitle service was provided utilizing QR codes. A major advantage was that attendees didn't need to rent separate interpretation receivers as they would at traditional events. Whenever attendees couldn't clearly see the main screen or wanted to review previous points, they could simply scan the on-site QR code with their personal mobile devices to easily catch up on missed content.

Global Partners focused on ‘this’: A New Alternative for 1-on-1 Meetings

During the 1:1 meet-up sessions, in-depth business discussions took place between Singaporean partners and domestic deep-tech companies.

Previously, when hiring individual simultaneous interpreters, the networking flow was often interrupted by partial interpretation if the attendees spoke some English. However, event organizers and global partner representatives who experienced EventCAT showed high satisfaction, noting it as a new alternative that perfectly resolves these interpretation gaps.

"Despite not being human, the translation quality was much more natural compared to other tools. It was excellent to see both Korean and English subtitles simultaneously, even when the language switched in the middle of the event."

Q. Why Did Global Partners Want EventCAT for 1:1 Meetings?

EventCAT provides the following exclusive advantages for global networking and 1:1 meetings where real-time communication is paramount:

• Low-Latency Real-Time Subtitles: By detecting the speaker's language in real time with minimal latency, it enables smooth business networking without the frustration caused by partial interpretation or translation delays.

• Downloadable Subtitles for Future Use: After the event concludes, the broadcast subtitles can be downloaded, allowing them to be used immediately for meeting minutes and follow-up business activities.

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