The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) visited the Physical AI test lab at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) on September 7 to discuss ways to enhance cooperation for the adoption and spread of Physical AI in small manufacturing firms.
This visit aimed to establish a collaborative framework that links MSIT's capabilities in Physical AI technology development and testing with MSS's support policies for small manufacturers, facilitating a pathway from technology development to testing, commercialization, and on-site implementation.
The two ministries plan to connect technology suppliers and manufacturing demand companies through the Physical AI Alliance, supporting the adoption of Physical AI in small manufacturing firms by reflecting on-site needs in technology development and testing.
Attendees at the site visit included Ryu Je-myung, the Second Vice Minister of MSIT; Noh Yong-seok, the First Vice Minister of MSS; Jo Jun-hee, the private chair of the Physical AI Alliance and head of its subcommittee; and representatives from Physical AI technology supply and demand companies.
MSIT will support small manufacturers in gradually adopting Physical AI based on full-stack technology secured through demonstrations in Jeonbuk (unmanned factory control and operation) and Gyeongnam (ultra-precision manufacturing intelligence).
In 2026, consulting for the introduction of autonomous mobile robots (AMR) and automated guided vehicles (AGV) for individual logistics segments will be provided, followed by consulting for the introduction of heterogeneous equipment across all logistics segments and precision manufacturing data in 2027. From the following year, comprehensive operational management consulting and operational systems for logistics and production processes will be offered.
MSS will support the establishment and testing of Physical AI-based manufacturing environments to ensure that Physical AI technology is implemented in actual small manufacturing sites through smart factories. In particular, a specialized support system will be established to enable small businesses to utilize MSIT's 'Everyone's AI Factory' service while simultaneously advancing MSS's smart factory initiatives, with plans to disseminate the results through the upcoming 'Manufacturing AI 24' platform.
The two ministries also plan to jointly plan and promote R&D focused on new growth areas such as biopharmaceuticals and climate tech, alongside the spread of Physical AI in manufacturing sites.
MSIT will support the acquisition of core and foundational technologies for Physical AI, while MSS will reflect the needs and commercialization potential of manufacturing sites in technology application and testing, aiming to create a virtuous cycle of technology development and on-site dissemination.
Companies attending the meeting expressed the need for a collaborative platform to continuously connect demand and supply companies. They also suggested expanding testing opportunities, supporting data utilization, training specialized personnel, and strengthening inter-business connections.
The two ministries plan to enhance collaboration through the Physical AI Alliance to ensure that technology development and testing lead to actual commercialization and on-site dissemination.
Ryu emphasized, "For Physical AI, one of our three mega projects, to generate tangible results in the industrial field, it is crucial to establish a virtuous cycle that connects excellent technology development with the needs of manufacturing sites, leading to testing and dissemination." He added, "We will actively support the application of domestic technology in actual manufacturing sites by consolidating the capabilities of related ministries and academia through the Physical AI Alliance."
Noh highlighted the need for successful case studies to enable small manufacturing firms to quickly adopt excellent Physical AI technology, stating, "We aim to actively promote the establishment of a data-driven feedback system so that small businesses can utilize outstanding results, leading to the activation of the Physical AI ecosystem through this collaboration."
This visit aimed to establish a collaborative framework that links MSIT's capabilities in Physical AI technology development and testing with MSS's support policies for small manufacturers, facilitating a pathway from technology development to testing, commercialization, and on-site implementation.
The two ministries plan to connect technology suppliers and manufacturing demand companies through the Physical AI Alliance, supporting the adoption of Physical AI in small manufacturing firms by reflecting on-site needs in technology development and testing.
Attendees at the site visit included Ryu Je-myung, the Second Vice Minister of MSIT; Noh Yong-seok, the First Vice Minister of MSS; Jo Jun-hee, the private chair of the Physical AI Alliance and head of its subcommittee; and representatives from Physical AI technology supply and demand companies.
Promoting Physical AI Adoption in Small Manufacturing through 'Everyone's AI Factory' and 'Smart Manufacturing Innovation'
Both ministries are advancing the adoption and spread of Physical AI in small manufacturing firms through key initiatives such as 'Everyone's AI Factory' and 'Smart Manufacturing Innovation.'MSIT will support small manufacturers in gradually adopting Physical AI based on full-stack technology secured through demonstrations in Jeonbuk (unmanned factory control and operation) and Gyeongnam (ultra-precision manufacturing intelligence).
In 2026, consulting for the introduction of autonomous mobile robots (AMR) and automated guided vehicles (AGV) for individual logistics segments will be provided, followed by consulting for the introduction of heterogeneous equipment across all logistics segments and precision manufacturing data in 2027. From the following year, comprehensive operational management consulting and operational systems for logistics and production processes will be offered.
MSS will support the establishment and testing of Physical AI-based manufacturing environments to ensure that Physical AI technology is implemented in actual small manufacturing sites through smart factories. In particular, a specialized support system will be established to enable small businesses to utilize MSIT's 'Everyone's AI Factory' service while simultaneously advancing MSS's smart factory initiatives, with plans to disseminate the results through the upcoming 'Manufacturing AI 24' platform.
The two ministries also plan to jointly plan and promote R&D focused on new growth areas such as biopharmaceuticals and climate tech, alongside the spread of Physical AI in manufacturing sites.
MSIT will support the acquisition of core and foundational technologies for Physical AI, while MSS will reflect the needs and commercialization potential of manufacturing sites in technology application and testing, aiming to create a virtuous cycle of technology development and on-site dissemination.
Strengthening Public-Private Cooperation in the Physical AI Alliance
As part of their collaboration, the ministries will establish and operate a specialized task force (TF) for small manufacturing firms within the alliance to identify on-site needs and support the application of technology through connections with supply companies.Companies attending the meeting expressed the need for a collaborative platform to continuously connect demand and supply companies. They also suggested expanding testing opportunities, supporting data utilization, training specialized personnel, and strengthening inter-business connections.
The two ministries plan to enhance collaboration through the Physical AI Alliance to ensure that technology development and testing lead to actual commercialization and on-site dissemination.
Ryu emphasized, "For Physical AI, one of our three mega projects, to generate tangible results in the industrial field, it is crucial to establish a virtuous cycle that connects excellent technology development with the needs of manufacturing sites, leading to testing and dissemination." He added, "We will actively support the application of domestic technology in actual manufacturing sites by consolidating the capabilities of related ministries and academia through the Physical AI Alliance."
Noh highlighted the need for successful case studies to enable small manufacturing firms to quickly adopt excellent Physical AI technology, stating, "We aim to actively promote the establishment of a data-driven feedback system so that small businesses can utilize outstanding results, leading to the activation of the Physical AI ecosystem through this collaboration."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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