Daegu to Become K-Robot Mecca... Establishing 'National Robot Test Field'

Daegu Hosts 'Public Livelihood Forum'
199.8 Billion KRW Investment, 50,000 Pyeong Site in Dalseong-gun, Daegu
Expectations for Corporate Investment Attraction and Robot Industry Ecosystem Development

President Yoon Suk-yeol is speaking at the 16th Public Discussion on Livelihoods held under the theme "Daegu Rising with Advanced New Industries" at Kyungpook National University in Buk-gu, Daegu on March 4, 2024. Photo by Yonhap News

The government announced at the 'Public Livelihood Discussion' held on the 4th at Kyungpook National University under the theme of 'Daegu Rising as an Advanced New Industry' that it will invest 199.8 billion KRW in Dalseong-gun, Daegu to establish a National Robot Test Field by 2028.

The National Robot Test Field is an infrastructure where robots developed by companies and others can be evaluated and demonstrated to operate safely and properly in both real and virtual environments. It is planned to be built on a site of 166,973㎡ (approximately 50,509 pyeong) in Yong-ri, Yongga-eup, Dalseong-gun, Daegu.

The National Robot Test Field project passed the preliminary feasibility study in August last year, and the project announcement was completed in February. After the overall executing agency and evaluation process this month, the project is scheduled to officially commence in April. The government and Daegu City plan to design the demonstration facilities by next year and complete the main facilities by 2026. After trial operations in 2027, demonstration services will be supported starting in 2028.

Daegu National Robot Test Field aerial view. Image provided by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

In the 4th Basic Plan for Intelligent Robots (2024?2028) announced last January, the government stated its intention to establish the National Robot Test Field to accelerate the commercialization of K-Robots. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy selected Daegu City as the project target through a regional public contest process, as Daegu actively expressed its intention to promote and support the project.

Daegu City attracted the Korea Institute for Robot Industry Advancement, the only domestic robot support organization, in 2010, and has accumulated ▲research infrastructure (Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Machinery Components, etc.), ▲education infrastructure (Kyungpook National University, DIGST, etc.), and ▲robot industry upstream and downstream companies (Hyundai Robotics and about 230 robot companies, as well as clusters of metal processing, machinery, and electronic parts industries).

The National Robot Test Field to be established in Daegu will simulate environments similar to actual conditions such as logistics, commerce, daily life, and outdoor driving to support the demonstration of robot service quality, safety, and reliability. Additionally, it plans to build simulation environments and services to enable virtual environment demonstrations. Companies will be able to identify and improve potential issues that may arise during on-site robot demonstrations in advance.

Daegu City is conducting relocation and investment agreements with domestic robot companies near the National Robot Test Field. It is expected that a new robot industry ecosystem will be created around this. Daegu City plans to utilize the National Robot Test Field as the world’s top demonstration research facility by linking it with the Global Robot Cluster (GRC).

The government stated, "By establishing the National Robot Test Field, we will secure a world-class demonstration evaluation system and lead the certification of robot companies' business models to ensure the health of the robot industry ecosystem." It added, "Through this, it is expected to create quality jobs, generate economic effects, revitalize the regional economy, and lay the foundation for Daegu City's leap as a global robot city." The preliminary feasibility study report predicted an economic effect of 389.5 billion KRW and employment inducement of 928 jobs through the establishment of the National Robot Test Field.