Home > IT/기술 > South Korea Launches Call for Service Robot Demonstration Projects with 12.7 Billion Won Investment to Alleviate Regulations and Support Market Expansion

South Korea Launches Call for Service Robot Demonstration Projects with 12.7 Billion Won Investment to Alleviate Regulations and Support Market Expansion

Bold Investment to Foster the Robot Industry

IT_기술 2026-03-23 IT/기술

Bold Investment to Foster the Robot Industry The Korea Institute for Robot Industry Advancement (KIRIA) announced on March 23, 2026, a call for proposals for service robot demonstration projects, expected to inject new vitality into the domestic robot industry. This initiative, backed by a total budget of 12.7 billion won, is accepting applications until April 20. Its objectives are to promote the widespread adoption of service robots, improve regulatory hurdles hindering robot integration, and advance the domestic robot industry ecosystem through demonstrations integrating various types of robots. The project is scheduled to run from the agreement date until December 31, 2026, focusing on resolving regulatory issues that impede robot industry development while accelerating technological market expansion. This project aims to enhance robot technology across multiple fronts, based on collaboration between public and private sectors, as well as global partners. This effort is interpreted as South Korea's move to secure leadership and establish a future-oriented technological environment amidst the rapidly growing global trends in AI and robotics. The call for proposals is structured around three main initiatives. First is the Service Robot Demonstration Project, second is the Regulatory Innovation Robot Demonstration Project, and third is the Large-scale Converged Robot Demonstration Project. The Service Robot Demonstration Project supports the introduction and widespread use of robots for public, private, and overseas demand, operating in three types: Public Dissemination, Private/Regional Dissemination, and Overseas Demonstration. Each type requires national funding support along with private co-funding. The Public Dissemination type requires a minimum of 30% private contribution, while the Private/Regional Dissemination and Overseas Demonstration types require a minimum of 50%. This support system aims to strengthen public-private cooperation and maximize companies' robot utilization capabilities. The Public Dissemination project expands robot adoption within the public sector, including government agencies, hospitals, and public facilities, specifically supporting the evaluation and commercialization of new technologies through large-scale demonstration data. By piloting robots in public institutions and accumulating demonstration data, the safety and efficiency of robot technology will be verified. With the government bearing initial investment costs and validating project effectiveness based on data, there is a high likelihood of new business models expanding. The Private/Regional Dissemination type focuses on providing customized services for small and medium-sized enterprises or local communities. By initially introducing robots for simple tasks in local commercial areas or small businesses, it opens up possibilities for more startups and small business owners to utilize robot technology. The Overseas Demonstration project aims to elevate the status of Korean robot technology through collaboration with global market demand sources. This approach involves proving the performance and stability of Korean robot technology through demonstrations in overseas markets and attempting successful commercialization. The Regulatory Innovation Robot Demonstration Project holds significant importance in this call for proposals. The core of this initiative lies in identifying and resolving regulatory difficulties that arise during the dissemination and expansion of robots. Complex regulatory frameworks concerning safety, effectiveness, and product approval have been major obstacles faced by many domestic companies in the process from technology development to commercialization. The Regulatory Innovation Robot Demonstration Project is divided into 'Regulation Discovery' and 'Regulation Resolution' types (open call, task-specific proposals). It aims to eliminate regulations hindering robot market entry by supporting regulation identification, product modification/improvement, and verification of safety and effectiveness through demonstrations. The Regulation Discovery type project provides up to 60 million won per task, focusing on proactively identifying regulatory barriers arising during robot technology development and establishing grounds for their improvement. This includes simplifying complex product certification procedures or proposing amendments to ensure new technologies are not excluded by existing laws. The Regulation Resolution type project offers up to 300 million won per task (based on national funding) and requires private co-funding. This project aims to prove the practical applicability of robots during the demonstration phase, clarifying technical safety and ensuring users can utilize them with confidence. KIRIA is exploring various measures to enable robot technology to realize its potential within traditional industrial regulations. Expanding the Robot Market Through Regulatory Improvement The Larg