Selected for Ministry of Industry Project... Secures 4.46 Billion Won in National Funding
'AI-Based' Smart Manufacturing Processes and Quality Enhancement
Gwangju City is accelerating its efforts to implement the 'AI Factory' initiative, which aims to enhance productivity and corporate competitiveness by integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into manufacturing processes.
On October 16, Gwangju City announced that it has been selected for the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy's 2025 'Machinery and Equipment Industry Technology Development Project (Manufacturing-Based Production System)' and has secured 4.46 billion won in national funding, providing a significant foundation for the smart transformation of the region's manufacturing industry.
With this selection, the city plans to focus on developing an AI-based autonomous control system for vehicle lighting module complex processes and commercializing it by applying the system to local automotive parts manufacturing sites. The project, with a total budget of 6.32 billion won (4.46 billion won in national funding and 1.86 billion won in private capital), will be carried out over four years until 2028, aiming to smarten production processes and enhance quality.
Key industry, academic, and research institutions-including LG Innotek, JD Tech, and the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology-will form a consortium to secure core technologies such as: ▲ automation of assembly processes based on dual-arm robots ▲ digital twin and AI vision robot control ▲ development of an AI operation platform.
The city expects this project to spread AI-based innovative technologies throughout the local manufacturing industry and strengthen its capabilities to respond to the transition to future vehicles.
Choi Taejo, Director of the Artificial Intelligence Industry Division, stated, "This project will serve as an opportunity to spread AI-based innovative technologies across the local manufacturing sector, strengthening industrial intelligence and our ability to respond to the shift toward future vehicles. As the project is being promoted solely with national and private capital, we will do our utmost to ensure efficient project management and build a collaborative system among participating institutions."
Meanwhile, since last year, Gwangju City has been developing an autonomous manufacturing system for automotive electronic parts painting processes through the 'AI Autonomous Manufacturing Project,' which is becoming a model of innovation for the region's manufacturing sector. In addition, the city plans to create synergy by including the AI Factory transition in the Ministry of Industry's 'Physical AI-Based Future Vehicle Industry Innovation Cluster Creation Project' master plan, as reflected in the government's national agenda, thereby building an advanced industrial ecosystem that integrates artificial intelligence and future mobility.
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