Ministry of SMEs and Startups and Ministry of Science and ICT Join Forces to Introduce Physical AI at Small and Medium-Sized Manufacturing Sites

Collaboration to Apply and Expand Physical AI in Small and Medium Manufacturing Sites
Support for Utilizing Physical AI in New Growth Sectors

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the Ministry of Science and ICT discussed cooperation measures for the transformation and expansion of Physical AI (Artificial Intelligence) at small and medium-sized manufacturing sites.

No Yongsuk, First Vice Minister of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, is visiting the Physical AI KAIST Demonstration Lab in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, discussing inter-ministerial cooperation plans for the transition to and spread of Physical AI in small and medium manufacturing sites. Ministry of SMEs and Startups

On September 7, the two ministries announced that they visited the Physical AI Demonstration Lab at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and held a roundtable meeting with technology providers and manufacturing companies seeking solutions for the field.

The purpose of this visit was to establish a cooperative system that links the smart manufacturing innovation support policy of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups with the Physical AI technology development and demonstration capabilities of the Ministry of Science and ICT, thereby ensuring a seamless pathway from technology development to on-site application and broader dissemination.

While the manufacturing sector is rapidly introducing Physical AI, many small and medium-sized manufacturers face difficulties applying it in their workplaces due to a shortage of specialists, lack of experience with adopting new technology, and insufficient opportunities for field demonstration.

The two ministries agreed to support Physical AI technology development and demonstration, connect technology providers and manufacturers through public-private cooperation networks such as the Physical AI Alliance, and facilitate the adoption of Physical AI at these workplaces.

A flagship project in this partnership is the introduction of Physical AI to small and medium-sized manufacturers through initiatives such as 'AI Manager for All' and 'Smart Manufacturing Innovation.' The Ministry of Science and ICT will gradually expand its services based on Physical AI full-stack solutions gained from regional demonstrations, such as unmanned factory control and operation in Jeonbuk, and ultra-precision manufacturing intelligence in Gyeongnam.

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups will support the establishment and demonstration of manufacturing environments based on Physical AI so that full-stack Physical AI technology can be realized in real-world sites via the broader rollout of smart factories. Dedicated support programs will enable small manufacturers to utilize both the 'AI Manager for All' service from the Ministry of Science and ICT and the smart factory deployment programs of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups.

The two ministries also plan to jointly promote research and development (R&D) with a focus on new growth areas such as security, pharmaceutical and bio, and climate technology. The Ministry of Science and ICT will support the securing of core and basic source technologies for Physical AI, while the Ministry of SMEs and Startups will focus its support on technology applications and demonstrations that reflect the commercialization potential at manufacturing sites.

At the roundtable, industry participants emphasized the need for a platform to connect supply and demand companies in order to accelerate the spread of Physical AI. They also suggested improvements in support policies, infrastructure for data utilization, development of specialized personnel, and stronger inter-program linkages.

No Yongseok, First Vice Minister of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, stated, "Building proven leading models for companies to benchmark is essential for small and medium manufacturers to rapidly adopt and utilize Physical AI technology. Through inter-ministerial collaboration, we will focus our policy capabilities to ensure the achievements of mega-projects, starting with Physical AI, are spread throughout the SME manufacturing sector."

Ryu Jaemyung, Second Vice Minister of the Ministry of Science and ICT, said, "If Physical AI, one of our three mega-projects, is to generate results in the field, it is crucial to establish a virtuous cycle where field demand leads to on-site demonstration and expanded adoption. Centered on the Physical AI Alliance, we will mobilize the resources of relevant ministries, industry, academia, and research institutions to deliver Korean-developed technology to real manufacturing sites."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.