The Korean public and private sectors have issued a challenge in the humanoid market, where global big tech and Chinese companies are competing. The Ministry of Science and ICT announced that it held a kick-off meeting on 18 May at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, for the “Public–Private Cooperation-Based Advanced Core Technology Project for Artificial Intelligence (AI) Humanoids.”

This project is a core initiative of the “K-Moonshot” program, which seeks to resolve national challenges through AI-based research. The ministry explained that its goal is to develop hardware (HW), software (SW), and AI in an integrated package, and to involve companies and end-users from the research and development (R&D) stage so as to build an AI humanoid platform that can move directly into mass production and field deployment. A total of KRW 50.4 billion will be invested from this year through 2030.

The project is being promoted to secure national-level competitiveness in the global humanoid market, which is being reorganized around a U.S.–China duopoly. While China led the market last year by producing 87% of the world’s humanoid robots, U.S. big tech companies are in hot pursuit. Recently, Meta entered the field by acquiring the home-use humanoid startup Assured Robotics Intelligence, while Tesla has also announced that mass production of its in-development humanoid robot “Optimus” is slated for the second half of this year (July–December).

Centered on KIST, the project brings together industrial participants including LG Electronics, LG AI Research, LG Energy Solution, Robostar, and WeRobotics; academic institutions such as Seoul National University, KAIST, Korea University, and Kyung Hee University; and Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital as the representative of the medical sector. Kim Sung-soo, Director-General for R&D Policy at the Ministry of Science and ICT, stated, “We plan to pool our capabilities and proceed swiftly from technology development and field demonstrations through to mass production,” adding, “We will make every effort to ensure that Korea secures leadership in the global AI humanoid market.”

Popular News