"AI Grand Transformation Requires Breaking Down Ministerial Silos" [AI Autonomous Manufacturing, Opening the Future]

Private Sector and Academia Call for Change
Confusion Arises from Different Supervisory Ministries by Research Entity
Proposals for Integration Centered on the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy
Support Needed Through Government Certification and Recommendations

"When robots are researched by companies, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy serves as the main supervisory body, but when they are researched by university laboratories, the Ministry of Science and ICT is in charge. Naturally, when universities and companies form a consortium to jointly pursue both fundamental technology development and commercialization, difficulties are bound to arise."

In the private sector and academia, which are focusing on technology development ahead of the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) autonomous manufacturing, the so-called "ministerial silos" are cited as one of the biggest barriers to entry. Jang Junhyeok, a professor in the Department of Electronic Engineering at Hanyang University, explained, "Especially in the case of AI and robotics, these issues arise because hardware and software are interlocked systems," and added, "The government is aware of this and is trying to find solutions through inter-ministerial joint projects, but this is only the beginning."

On the 14th, a visitor participating in the '2025 International Artificial Intelligence Exhibition' held at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, is experiencing a voice recognition AI counselor. 2025.5.14. Photo by Kang Jinhyung

Currently, the roles of government ministries related to AI are essentially divided: industrial demand (Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy), technology development (Ministry of Science and ICT), and business support (Ministry of SMEs and Startups). While each function is necessary, experts point out that there is no clear entity to coordinate the overall direction and strategy. The "National Research Institute 2.0" project, announced jointly by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Science and ICT in February, is cited as an example of the government's commitment to addressing this issue. The project involves the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Science and ICT each providing half of the funding to select university-affiliated research institutes, with each institute receiving 10 billion won per year for 10 years. The goal is to address the limitations of small-scale research institutes in producing results, a problem identified during the "National Research Institute 1.0 (National Designated Research Laboratory)" project that began in 1999. The new approach is to select a small number of university-affiliated research institutes and provide them with focused support.

Some experts advise that the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy should serve as the control tower to carry out multi-ministerial projects. In particular, there is a growing call for the establishment of standards related to the emerging AI autonomous manufacturing technology. A representative from an AI solutions company stressed, "A reliable certification system, ethical standards, and security guidelines are essential for the most important aspect: matching supply and demand." He added, "Even when we try to export the technology we have developed overseas, deals often fall through due to a lack of trust, so the government needs to provide support by issuing certifications or recommendation letters."

In response, an official from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy stated, "It may be necessary to restructure policies into an integrated platform that coordinates collaboration between technology ministries and support ministries, with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy at the center." The official further explained, "At this point, what matters is not who creates the technology, but who can most effectively embed it in the industry so that it leads to tangible results."