Daejeon Selected for Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy's 'AI Autonomous Manufacturing Leading Project'

35 Billion Won Secured for Machinery and Robotics... Expectations for Synergy in New Drug Development with Localization of Gene Synthesis Technology

Daejeon City announced that it has secured 3.5 billion KRW in national funding after being selected for the “AI Autonomous Manufacturing Leading Project in the Machinery and Robotics Sector” organized by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

The selected project is part of the “AI Autonomous Manufacturing Strategy 1.0” announced by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy in May. It aims to introduce AI-based robots and equipment into gene synthesis processes, transforming the existing manual gene synthesis process into an AI-driven autonomous manufacturing automation process.

With this selection, the city expects to achieve technological localization in the gene synthesis market, which has previously relied on foreign technology, and anticipates that the spread of bio-manufacturing technology utilizing gene synthesis will create a synergistic effect in the region’s bioindustry, which is centered on new drug development.

The project will run for four years until 2027, with a total investment of 7.45 billion KRW, including 3.5 billion KRW in national funding, 1.05 billion KRW from the city, and 2.9 billion KRW from private sector contributions.

Daejeon Technopark will lead the project, with Bioneer Inc. as the main operator and Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) as a joint research partner. They will develop AI-based gene cultivation technology, while local companies specializing in robotics and AI software will be responsible for developing robotic arm technology to control the gene synthesis process.

Han Sunhee, Director of Future Strategic Industries at Daejeon City, said, “We will strive to ensure that Daejeon can emerge as a leading region in the bioindustry through the selection of this project.”

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