A Regional Hub for AI-Driven Autonomous Manufacturing Expected
120 Billion Won to Be Invested in Establishing the Manufacturing AI Center by 2027
Ulsan City has been finally selected for the "Regional Specialized Manufacturing Data Activation Project" promoted by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups.
As a result, the establishment of a regional hub for realizing autonomous manufacturing powered by artificial intelligence is now anticipated.
The Regional Specialized Manufacturing Data Activation Project aims to systematically collect data generated at the sites of small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises and to analyze and utilize this data, thereby optimizing manufacturing processes and promoting the application of artificial intelligence technology development.
Ulsan has an industrial structure centered on manufacturing industries such as automobiles, shipbuilding, and chemicals. In particular, the automobile parts sector boasts the highest level of industrial concentration in the country. Additionally, the active adoption of smart factories in the Ulsan region has created favorable conditions for the collection and utilization of manufacturing data, which were highly evaluated.
Following the selection for this project, the city will establish a manufacturing AI center of approximately 264 square meters on the third floor of the Technology Innovation Building A at Ulsan Technopark, with a total project budget of 12 billion won, including 6 billion won in national funding, from June 2025 to 2027.
Once the manufacturing AI center is completed, it will systematically collect both structured and unstructured data generated by 100 automobile parts companies. Based on this data, it will develop and distribute site-specific artificial intelligence models, thereby accelerating the digital transformation of the region's industries.
This project is particularly noteworthy for its strategic linkage with the "AI Autonomous Manufacturing Leading Project," which is currently led by the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute and Hyundai Motor Company.
The "AI Autonomous Manufacturing Leading Project" aims to realize autonomous process optimization by applying artificial intelligence to large-scale production sites.
The Ulsan Manufacturing AI Center will serve as a forward base for regional demonstration and diffusion linked to this project. It will connect technology development led by large corporations to the sites of local small and medium-sized enterprises, and establish a structure to expand models verified through demonstration to various groups of companies.
The city expects that this project will foster a data-driven manufacturing innovation ecosystem and establish an integrated system encompassing the entire cycle from data collection and analysis to technology development and application, thereby strengthening the artificial intelligence capabilities of local companies.
Furthermore, by providing a foundation for AI technology suppliers to demonstrate and advance their technologies using real data, the project is also expected to significantly contribute to the growth of AI specialist companies in the region and to strengthening industrial competitiveness.
A city official stated, "This selection is seen as the result of Ulsan City's continued efforts to build an ecosystem for manufacturing data demand and supply within the region," adding, "We will take the lead in advancing regional industries and enhancing the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises by strengthening organic cooperation with the AI Autonomous Manufacturing Leading Project, centered on the Ulsan Manufacturing AI Center."
The Ulsan Manufacturing AI Center, which will take the lead in promoting the "Regional Specialized Manufacturing Data Activation Project," will be operated through collaboration among Ulsan Technopark (the lead organization), Ulsan Information Industry Promotion Agency, University of Ulsan, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Korea Productivity Center, and participating companies (Atech, ABAH, Nsoft, Doov, CrescAI, and Stagen).
Ulsan City Hall.
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