Gyeongsangbuk-do held the "Gyeongbuk Robot Industry Supply Chain Response Corporate Meeting" on September 17 at the Gyeongsan Industrial Complex Complex Cultural Center.

The event was attended by about 20 officials, including Park Si-gyun, Director-General of the Science and Industry Bureau of Gyeongsangbuk-do; Lee Sang-hyup, Head of the New Growth Industry Division of Gyeongsan City; representatives from related organizations such as Gyeongbuk TechnoPark, Korea Institute of Robot and Convergence, Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (Textile Machinery Research Division), and Gyeongbuk IT Convergence Industry Technology Institute; and local company representatives including Jang Jae-ho, President of the Gyeongsan AI Robot Company Association.

This meeting was prepared as a follow-up measure to the "Gyeongbuk Robot Industry Supply Chain Response T/F," which was launched in Gumi on August 24.

In response to large corporations expanding their investments in the robot sector, ways for local companies to participate in the robot parts supply chain were discussed. Support measures to back the entry of Gyeongsan's automotive parts companies into the robot industry and the growth of existing robot companies were also examined.

The meeting introduced Gyeongbuk's robot industry fostering strategy and support projects by organization, and listened to suggestions from the industry. Attendees exchanged opinions focusing on necessary tasks in the field, such as technology development, demonstration, market expansion, and securing professional workforce.

Recently, domestic large corporations have successively announced investment plans to establish robot production infrastructure. In February, Hyundai Motor Group unveiled an investment plan worth approximately 9 trillion won encompassing robotics, AI, and hydrogen energy in Saemangeum. In July, Samsung Electronics and Samsung SDS also announced plans to build a humanoid mass-production system, a robot data factory, and an AI data center in Gumi.

Gyeongsangbuk-do believes that to connect these investment flows into growth opportunities for the local industry, it is necessary to proactively establish a stable robot core parts supply chain involving local companies. The province plans to support technological transition and business diversification for Gyeongsan automotive parts companies, and product advancement, demonstration, and market expansion for existing robot companies.

Based on the opinions presented at the meeting, Gyeongsangbuk-do plans to materialize follow-up tasks such as technology development, establishment of joint-use infrastructure, corporate support, and workforce training, and utilize them to discover new projects related to the robot industry.

Park Si-gyun, Director-General of the Science and Industry Bureau of Gyeongsangbuk-do, said, "Large-scale investments in the robot industry can provide local automotive parts companies with opportunities for business diversification and existing robot companies with a stepping stone for a new leap forward." He added, "Based on the demand confirmed in the field, we will materialize technology development, demonstration, market, and workforce support so that Gyeongsan companies can enter and grow within the robot industry supply chain."

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