Government Supports Distribution of 1,500 Robots for Manufacturing and Service Industries

Ministry of Industry Establishes '2020 Intelligent Robot Implementation Plan'
Investing 127.1 Billion KRW This Year... "Simultaneous Promotion of 5G·AI Robot Convergence and Demonstration"

Visitors examining industrial robots at the '2019 Korea Industry Fair' held on October 22 last year. / Goyang - Photo by Kim Hyunmin kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The government announced plans to support the distribution of 1,500 robots in the manufacturing sector, including the root industry, and four major service sectors such as caregiving.

On the 3rd, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy stated that it has established the "2020 Intelligent Robot Implementation Plan." This plan is the first annual implementation plan of the "3rd Intelligent Robot Basic Plan (2019?2023)" announced last August.

The implementation plan was created in accordance with the 3rd plan’s tasks, including expanding the distribution of manufacturing robots centered on three major manufacturing industries, focusing on fostering four major service robot sectors, and strengthening the foundational ecosystem of the robot industry.

This year, 127.1 billion KRW will be invested to distribute 1,500 robots mainly in manufacturing industries and the four major service sectors. Development of core components and software (SW) such as smart grippers, as well as convergence and demonstration of 5G, artificial intelligence (AI), and robots will also be promoted.

First, 500 robots will be distributed in manufacturing industries such as root, textile, and food and beverage. More than 90 demand companies will receive 500 manufacturing robots including collaborative robots, along with support for workplace safety certification and employee training. This is to apply and demonstrate 14 robot-utilized process standard models developed last year.

This year, 23 additional robot-utilized process standard models will be developed. Financial support programs such as leasing and rental services and preferential loan interest rates will also be promoted to create an environment where companies can increase robot distribution on their own.

In the four major service sectors with high growth potential?caregiving, wearables, medical, and logistics?1,000 robots will be distributed.

5.9 billion KRW will be invested in developing new service robots such as wearable robots, spinal surgery robots, and parking robots. Support will be provided for distributing 700 caregiving robots, 90 wearables, 10 medical robots, and 200 logistics robots.

In particular, to proactively identify and improve regulations that hinder the spread of service robots, the "Robot Regulation Innovation Support Center" will be operated. A roadmap for promoting regulatory improvements in the robot sector will be established.

Support will be provided for localization of core components and software, demand-linked demonstrations, and convergence between 5G, AI, and robots. 2.4 billion KRW will be invested in developing three major core components such as intelligent controllers. 1.8 billion KRW will be invested in developing four major software types including gripping technology software.

12 billion KRW will be invested in the "Robot Parts Demonstration Project" to enable the application and verification of domestically produced robot parts in manufacturers’ robots.

Additionally, 2.4 billion KRW will be newly supported for the development and demonstration of collaborative intelligence modules, and 3.8 billion KRW for building 5G-based manufacturing robot demonstration infrastructure.

An official from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said, "As interest in the non-face-to-face era increases recently, discussions on utilizing robots in various fields are becoming active. We will support the creation of new markets using robots and cooperate with related organizations and industries to ensure the smooth implementation of this year’s plan for innovation in manufacturing and service industries through robots."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.