The government plans to gradually introduce physical AI into factories of small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises, enabling integrated operation of all logistics and production processes from 2028 onward. The initiative aims to accelerate the actual spread of physical AI in manufacturing sites by linking technology development, demonstration projects, and smart factory support programs that were previously scattered across different ministries.
The Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups visited the Physical AI Demonstration Lab at Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) on the 7th and held a roundtable meeting with technology supply companies and manufacturing demand companies to discuss this collaborative plan, they announced.
The core of the initiative lies in linking the Ministry of Science and ICT's "Everyone's AI Factory Manager" project with the Ministry of SMEs and Startups' "Smart Manufacturing Innovation" program. Physical AI is a technology where artificial intelligence (AI) perceives and judges its surrounding environment to directly control robots or machinery. The focus is on lowering entry barriers for small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises, which lack specialized personnel, data, and demonstration opportunities compared to large corporations.
The Ministry of Science and ICT will gradually apply physical AI technologies acquired from unmanned factory control and operation in Jeonbuk Province and intelligent precision manufacturing demonstrations in Gyeongnam Province to SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises). As a first step this year, the ministry will provide consulting support for introducing AMRs (autonomous mobile robots) and AGVs (automated guided vehicles) into individual logistics segments. In 2027, the scope will be expanded to cover all factory logistics segments, providing consulting on the introduction of different facilities and precision manufacturing data.
Starting in 2028, the support scope will expand beyond logistics to include production. The plan is to provide consulting and operational systems for integrated operation and management of all logistics and production processes, thereby raising the level of factory automation. Support will also be provided for design, analysis, procurement, and training.
The Ministry of SMEs and Startups will be responsible for establishing manufacturing environments and conducting demonstrations to ensure that these technologies can be applied in actual SME smart factories. The ministry will also develop a specialized support program allowing SMEs to simultaneously utilize the "Everyone's AI Factory Manager" project and smart factory construction programs. Excellent cases obtained during the demonstration phase will be disseminated through the "Manufacturing AI 24" platform, which connects manufacturing data, solutions, supply companies, and government projects.
The two ministries are also promoting joint R&D (research and development) on physical AI. The Ministry of Science and ICT will support the development of core and foundational technologies targeting new security, pharmaceuticals/biotech, climate tech, and K-consumer goods, while the Ministry of SMEs and Startups will be responsible for applying these technologies to reflect manufacturing site needs and conducting demonstrations.
A task force (TF) specialized for small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises will also be newly established within the "Physical AI Alliance," a public-private cooperation body. The roundtable meeting held that day was attended by RAINBOW Robotics, PersonaAI, Pebbles, Impix, Baekje Foods, and New Hi-Tech, who suggested expanding demonstration opportunities, utilizing data, and training specialized personnel.
Ryu Je-myeong, the Second Vice Minister of the Ministry of Science and ICT, stated, "It is important to build a virtuous cycle that goes beyond excellent technology development by connecting it with manufacturing site needs, leading to demonstration and widespread adoption." Noh Yong-seok, the First Vice Minister of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, announced, "We will establish a data-based feedback system so that outstanding results are not limited to individual company applications and verifications but can be utilized by SMEs."
in TECH
