Business Agreement Signed to Build a Global Ecosystem
Popularization of AI Service Robots, Revitalization of the People's Economy
On the 21st, Gumi City and Gyeongbuk Province signed a business agreement at the Gyeongbuk Provincial Office to strengthen mutual cooperation systems for the establishment of a 'Global Ecosystem for AI Service Robot Manufacturing.' The agreement was signed in the presence of Governor Lee Cheol-woo and Mayor Kim Jang-ho, along with three robot-related companies (Bear Robotics, Intops, KT) and three research institutions (Gyeongbuk Technopark, Gyeongsangbuk-do Economic Promotion Agency, Korea Institute of Robot Convergence).
The contents of the agreement signed that day include the localization of AI service robot parts and the creation of a technology development ecosystem, strengthening mutual cooperation systems in design, production, and operation, and fostering research and development and practical professional manpower. These efforts aim to lead a smart livelihood economy transformation through the establishment of a mutual cooperation system for the AI service robot industry.
In particular, 'Bear Robotics,' which participated in today's agreement, developed 'Servi,' the world's first serving robot that currently holds the number one market share in the United States and Japan. Since 2021, Intops in Gumi has started mass production of Bear Robotics' service robots, producing 10,000 serving robots by last year, and plans to continue contract manufacturing of service robots this year as well.
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for non-face-to-face services has increased, and the distribution of AI service robots in the food service industry is expanding to address labor shortages. Additionally, the introduction of AI-based service robots is expanding to solve care issues in an aging society and social problems. Furthermore, the global service robot market size reached approximately 472 trillion KRW in 2021, with an expected average annual growth rate of 21.9% until 2027.
Accordingly, Gyeongbuk Province and Gumi City have selected the service robot industry, which integrates autonomous driving, robotics, and artificial intelligence, as a next-generation future industry nurturing platform based on the manufacturing technology and know-how of over 140 robot-related companies in Gyeongbuk Province. They are actively promoting the creation of a global manufacturing ecosystem to lead the era of AI service robot popularization in the future.
Mayor Kim Jang-ho stated, “Gumi opened the Robot Job Innovation Center last December, playing a pivotal role in fostering practical robot professionals and improving productivity and competitiveness in manufacturing sites.” He added, “Through this agreement, Gumi will generously support the cooperation between local robot parts manufacturing companies and the Robot Job Innovation Center so that Gyeongbuk Province and Gumi can lead the future robot industry sector.”
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