New Types Added in Service Robots, Regulatory Innovation, and Convergence Robots
Including New Technology and New Industry Sectors
The Korea Institute for Robot Industry Advancement has selected 65 projects in the service robot sector for this year's demonstration support initiative and will provide 16.5 billion KRW in government funding.
On June 16, the Korea Institute for Robot Industry Advancement announced that it plans to select a total of 65 projects in the service robot sector for the 2025 demonstration support initiative and allocate 16.5 billion KRW in government funding.
The selected projects span three categories: ▲Service Robot Demonstration Projects (30 projects) ▲Regulatory Innovation Robot Demonstration Projects (13 continuing projects and 12 new projects) ▲Large-Scale Convergence Robot Demonstration Projects (8 continuing projects and 2 new projects).
The Service Robot Demonstration Projects support robot demonstrations aimed at public, private, and overseas expansion. Starting this year, new expansion types have been introduced, including new technology and new industry sectors, as well as public expansion and overseas demonstration. A total of 30 projects have been selected, with approximately 5.8 billion KRW in government funding allocated.
Main building exterior of Korea Institute for Robot Industry Advancement. Korea Institute for Robot Industry Advancement.
The initiative supports demonstration of robot services across various industries and sectors, including logistics, food tech, and healthcare. This year, support has been expanded to public sectors such as defense and police, as well as to overseas markets including the United States and Canada. The goal is to enhance public awareness of robots in daily life and strengthen the global competitiveness of domestic companies.
The Regulatory Innovation Robot Demonstration Projects provide customized demonstrations and solutions for robot products facing market entry barriers due to regulations. This year, the program has been restructured as a one-year project, allowing companies to choose the support type (discovery, product verification, or data acquisition) based on their specific regulatory challenges. A total of 25 projects will receive approximately 4.6 billion KRW in government funding.
Through support for ▲proactive identification of safety and environmental regulations (discovery type), ▲customized modification and improvement in food and care sectors (product verification type), and ▲robot demonstration and data utilization in medical and agricultural sectors (data acquisition type), the initiative aims to reduce regulatory burdens for selected companies and enhance the effectiveness of their projects.
The Large-Scale Convergence Robot Demonstration Projects involve linking various types and numbers of robots at diverse demand hubs such as public facilities, hospitals, and industrial complexes. A total of 10 projects?including 2 new and 8 continuing?will receive approximately 5.9 billion KRW in government funding. The projects are divided into 'social problem-solving' and 'public experience demonstration' categories.
This year, newly selected demand hubs include educational facilities for people with disabilities and power facilities. Through large-scale demonstrations, the initiative is expected to help address social issues such as employment for people with disabilities, prevent safety accidents, and stabilize power supply.
Kang Chulho, President of the Korea Institute for Robot Industry Advancement, stated, "I would like to thank the robot companies and organizations that proposed a variety of excellent projects. We will continue to provide effective support so that these demonstration projects can contribute to the creation of new service models and the improvement of quality of life for the public."
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