Article · AI translation
IT Home reported on October 29 that, according to a report published around midday today (the 29th) by the South Korean outlet Electronic Times, the South Korean government plans to invest at least 5 trillion won by 2030 (IT Home note: approximately 25.145 billion yuan at current exchange rates) to promote the adoption of physical AI among small and medium-sized manufacturers. Through a “3X strategy” combining digital, artificial intelligence and robotics transformations, it aims to raise their AI adoption rate from 1% to 10%.
The South Korean government has announced its Strategy for Promoting Physical AI in Small and Medium-Sized Manufacturing. Its goal is to increase the number of companies using AI from 600 to 6000 and the number undergoing digital transformation from 18000 to 30000 by 2030.
Under the “3X strategy,” the South Korean government will support small and medium-sized enterprises in building smart factories and upgrading existing equipment to advance digital transformation. It will also introduce AI and digital twin technologies into production processes to make production more intelligent. For robotics, the government plans to promote the use of manufacturing robots at more than 1000 companies by 2030.
The government will also provide different levels of support according to companies’ existing digital capabilities, covering the construction of basic smart factories, the use of AI in production processes and the construction of AI autonomous factories. Companies lacking data can receive support for smart factory construction and equipment upgrades, while those with an established data foundation can introduce AI technologies suited to different processes.
In addition, the government will test and validate AI and robotics technologies in manual operations in the food and cosmetics industries, as well as in high-risk processes such as casting and mold manufacturing. It will then integrate validated technologies into a demonstration project tentatively called the “Smart Robot Factory.”
The South Korean government also plans to develop 500 companies specializing in smart manufacturing by 2030, supporting their technology research and development and expansion into overseas markets. At the same time, it will promote a system called “AI Factory Manager for All,” which uses physical AI to enable unmanned factory operations tailored to companies’ industries and production processes.
Regarding the use of manufacturing data, the government will assess the value of data held by companies and allow them to contribute it as an in-kind investment to participate in government-supported projects. The existing AI Manufacturing Platform (KAMP) will also be upgraded to “Manufacturing AI24,” with added AI analysis and simulation capabilities. To ease the shortage of personnel to run manufacturing operations on site, the government will also offer specialized training and internship programs through South Korea’s 4 major institutes of science and technology.