Daegu City Recruiting Companies to Join the "AI Robot Regulation-Free Special Zone"

Daegu City is recruiting additional capable companies to participate in the "Daegu AI Robot Global Innovation Regulation-Free Special Zone," the nation's only regulation-free special zone in the AI robot sector, until March 3.

The city plans to further enhance the competitiveness of the local AI robot industry by leveraging the strengths of the special zone, which supports both technology demonstration and overseas expansion at the same time.

Daegu City Sangyeok Government Office

The special zone applies regulatory exemptions for domestic demonstration to companies designated as special zone project operators in order to support technological advancement in the AI robot industry and their entry into global markets, and it also provides financial support needed for overseas testing and certification.

Designated by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups in May last year, the Daegu special zone spans a total area of 32.16 square kilometers and includes Daegu Technopolis, Daegu National Industrial Complex, the Third Industrial Complex, Seongseo Industrial Complex, Suseong Alpha City, and Daegu Medical Center. Currently, 18 AI robot companies and institutions are participating as special zone project operators.

Eligible applicants are AI robot companies that already have business sites within the special zone or are able to relocate there in the future. Once selected as special zone project operators, they will benefit from regulatory exemptions, such as being allowed to film video data and process original data for research and development purposes in public areas within the special zone without obtaining consent from data subjects. However, in accordance with relevant laws and regulations, financial support for overseas testing and certification is limited to companies that have business sites within the special zone.

Daegu City plans to conduct expert evaluations of the applicant companies, select the final project operators, and then proceed with changes to the special zone plan. In accordance with the Regional Special Zone Act, the city will go through procedures for public notice and inspection of the changes, apply to the Ministry of SMEs and Startups for a change in the special zone plan by the end of March, and expects the final notice to be issued in April.

Lee Yoonjung, Head of the Machinery and Robot Division at Daegu City, said, "We look forward to active participation from companies that aim to enhance their technological competitiveness and seek entry into overseas markets by utilizing the regulatory exemptions," adding, "We will make every effort to support overseas testing and certification for capable companies selected as special zone project operators and to build a foundation for securing leadership in global markets."