The government has announced a plan to foster the artificial intelligence (AI) robot industry to increase its global humanoid market share and make its manufacturing competitiveness the best in the world.
Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jeong-gwan presented the "3M Strategy" to narrow the gap in the global AI robot market at the "National Report Meeting on the Three Mega Projects for Korea's Great Leap Forward," held at the Blue House today (June 29).
The 3M strategy stands for the acceleration of M.AX (Manufacturing AI Transformation), fostering masters, and mass production.
Regarding the M.AX initiative pushed by the Ministry, Minister Kim said, "We will combine AI robots with our world-class manufacturing competitiveness to expand synergy. Through this, we will make our manufacturing productivity the number one in the world."
He further promised, "We will build the components and competitiveness that make up AI robots," adding, "We will foster more than 30 specialized companies through data, robot foundation models, and the cultivation of key product personnel."
The plan is to expand the mass production base for AI robots with a focus on regional areas.
"China is already carrying out full-scale mass production of humanoids on a regional basis," Minister Kim said. "We must also hurry to establish our mass production base."
He added, "The starting point is the creation of an initial market, and the government will take the lead. The government will preemptively purchase robots in various demand sectors such as education, national defense, and disaster response," and "on that foundation, we will expand production bases centered on regions."
Minister Kim stated that he would raise the global humanoid robot market share, which was at the 1% level last year, to 20%.
"Preoccupying the AI robot market can completely change the rankings of global manufacturing powerhouses," he emphasized. "It is time for the Republic of Korea to make a great transition from a country that has been good at using robots to a country that is good at making them."
(Photo: Yonhap News)